Will the Nationals be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline? We’ll know by the trade deadline, which is 6 pm on August 3. At 48-49, the team has the best record it has had at the All-Star break since 2019. And, we all remember what happened that year . . . .
Fangraphs gives the team a 3.4% chance of making the playoffs. We are currently 4 games out of a wild card spot. Let’s go for it!
The team is back in action tonight, visiting the Athletics for 3 and the Rockies for 3. These six games are very winnable and may forecast how the prevailing wind will blow as July plays out. Changes are being made.
Abimelec Ortiz joined the team in DC just before the break and Harry Ford has been called up to fill in for Drew Millas, who is on the IL with a hand injury.
Shoring up the bullpen remains the number one priority. With 27 blown saves this season, the Nationals are in first place in a losing category. The league average is 13+, so we have double the league average. Toboni picked up Max Kranick off the Mets scrap heap (did I really write that?). I’m not sure whether there are really no other good options out there or whether the team doesn’t want to pay. Can anyone help me out with that?
The Nationals ultimately sent three players to the All-Star game. Foster Griffin was a late invite after another pitcher dropped out. Griffin shined in his one inning of work on Tuesday, striking out 2 in a three up/three down outing. Abrams and Wood did not fare as well in their solo performances with Abrams striking out twice and Wood once.
Griffin’s performance on the national stage has only cemented his value as a potential trade target. Here’s hoping the Nats resist or, if they do not, they get enough value to make it worthwhile.
Meanwhile, down on the farm, Red Wing fans voted Abimelec Ortiz their favorite player for the first half of the season. Hoping for good things from him in DC. Last Sunday he batted .500 (1 for 2) against the Yankees.
In an unanticipated move, the team designated Robert Hassell III for assignment and then traded him to the Pirates for cash after he cleared waivers. Not sure what they didn’t see from him but with the individualized training plans in place this year perhaps the coaches didn’t see him getting to where he needed to go.
Yohandy (Yoyo) Morales earned first-half MVP honors at Rochester and we should see him in DC later this season. A second round pick in 2023, Yoyo likely will be a first baseman when he joins the show.
With its first pick in the 2026 draft, the Nationals chose a local player, Chris Hacopian. Hacopian finalized his contract with the Nationals when he inked an “under-slot deal” of $5.7 million. The numbers people determined that he could have signed a $6,133,500 contract as the number 11 overall pick (thus the “under slot” designation because he signed for less). Hacopian grew up a Nats fan and was delighted to join the team.
BTW, can someone get the message to the players that they surely can come up with a better home run celebration than throwing sunflower seeds?
Let’s be the envy of sports.
#thenatslady #theswarm
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