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Washington Nationals Rumor roundup: Craig Kimbrel? Aroldis Chapman?

The Washington Nationals were rumored to have interest in Tyler Clippard, but he's a New York Met now. So where will the Nats turn if they are indeed still searching for a bullpen addition?

By Patrick Reddington

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Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The oddest note to come out on Monday related to the Washington Nationals' rumored search for a bullpen arm came from CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman, who reported that sources told him when the Nationals talked to San Diego about closer Craig Kimbrel, the Padres "suggested a return of shortstop Trea Turner in a potential package back from the Nats," though, he added that, "... word is the chances of that happening are somewhere between slim and none."

The Nationals, of course, acquired Turner, 22, in the three-team "Wil Myers trade" with the Padres and Tampa Bay Rays this winter, along with 22-year-old right-hander Joe Ross. Does San Diego want Ross back too?

Ross, a 2011 1st Round pick by the Padres, has already debuted in the majors, and Turner, a 2014 first-rounder, who was included as the Player to be Named Later in the deal a year after he signed a $2.9M bonus with San Diego, has put up an impressive, combined .316/.368/.463 line with 20 doubles, six triples, seven home runs and 21 stolen bases in 95 games and 400 PAs between Double-A in the Padres and Nationals' systems and Triple-A with the Nats.

The Nationals, however, Heyman wrote, see Turner as their "... shortstop of the future with Ian Desmond a free agent after the year."

Heyman mentioned the Toronto Blue Jays as suitors for Kimbrel as well, and said the Nationals and Blue Jays have talked to the Philadelphia Phillies about Jonathan Papelbon and the Cincinnati Reds about Aroldis Chapman.

Late Monday night/early Tuesday morning, FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal too reported that his sources said the Padres did actually ask for Turner:

In spite of that ask, Rosenthal wrote that the Nationals were the "hottest" on Kimbrel:

"Something big"? That sounds familiar. ESPN.com's Jayson Stark too, of course, wrote this past weekend that, "Clubs that have spoken with the Nationals say they're trying to do 'something big' if they make a move at all."

He did, however, add that, he'd heard the Nationals, "... have told other clubs they have no interest in trading their best pitching prospect, Lucas Giolito, or their highly regarded infield prospects, Trea Turner or Wilmer Difo, in any deal."

Nats News: Werth set to return; Clippard to Mets?!

 Photo © Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

When Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo talked about his approach to any potential deadline deals in an MLB Network Radio interview last week, he said he had to weigh, "... what the risk/reward is to go out and make an acquisition that helps us not only for 2015 and the stretch run, but for beyond," and he had to ask, "what are the repercussions for trading away good young players to fill a hole this year," and, "what are the chances of winning with that player?"

"So a lot of things go into the decision," Rizzo concluded.

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