So this is what passes for trade chatter involving the Washington Nationals this time around with the July 31st Non-waiver Trade Deadline fast approaching. There continue to be hints that the Nats are in the market for some bullpen depth if it is available, some infield depth for the organization, and maybe, just maybe, some infield help at the major league level depending on just how bad the hamstring injury Ryan Zimmerman suffered this week really is...
FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal wrote on Twitter on Friday that it's not clear if the Nationals are making or taking calls, or maybe both?:
Other teams saying #Nationals looking for 2B and LHR. Nats say teams calling them to offer 2B and will acquire LHR only if it is an upgrade.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 24, 2014
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark, in a chat with readers, offered this take on the Nationals' stance with the deadline approaching when asked if Zimmerman's injury has changed the Nats' plans:
"Not getting much sense that they're getting significantly more aggressive. They don't seem optimistic about this injury. Sounds like he'll be out for a long time. But they have so much depth, they can cover it. So they're poking around for bats and a lefthanded reliever. But as I said, not very aggressively."
The Nationals also reportedly had scouts/talent evaluators in attendance in St. Petersburg, FL's Tropicana Field on Friday night, when the Red Sox and Rays went at it with much-discussed lefties David Price and Jon Lester on the mound. Were the Nats' scouts watching the starters? Checking out infielders? Relievers? Who knows?:
#Braves, #Orioles, #Mariners, #Cubs, #Nationals also have top evaluators present for Price-Lester.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 26, 2014
Per @PeteAbe, teams with top scouts at the Trop Friday included #Braves, #Giants, #Mariners, #Nationals, #Orioles, #Phillies, #Pirates
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) July 26, 2014
MLB.com's Bill Ladson reported last night that in the wake of Ryan Zimmerman's injury the Nationals inquired about the availability of veteran Rangers' third baseman Adrian Beltre.
"[T]wo baseball sources revealed on Friday that the Nationals inquired about Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre," Ladson writes, "but the 'Nationals were rebuffed' one of the sources said."
As Ladson notes, Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo was asked on Friday if the Nats were in the market for a third baseman, but Rizzo said they are comfortable with their options at the position with 24-year-old 2B/3B Anthony Rendon there now and Zimmerman eventually coming back:
"'We feel pretty confident, especially at that position. We like our depth, and we like the way our roster has been constructed. We like the guys that will have to step up and play to their potential. I think we have the man power to do it.'"
Were the Nationals' scouts at the Rays/Red Sox game doing their due diligence in case either of the starters is actually going to be dealt? Were the Nationals looking at relievers? Red Sox' lefty Andrew Miller is rumored to be potentially available? But he's a rental most likely, and figures to be costly... Were they looking at infielders?
With "Run Silent" Rizzo at the helm we'll just have to wait and see... (Who are the controllable young left-handers, infielders out there?) but we won't have to wait long. The Non-Waiver Trade Deadline is less than a week away....