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All Washington Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo would say when asked about potentially trading veteran reliever Ryan Madson by 106.7 the FAN in D.C.’s Sports Junkies this week, was that he had to wait and see if the 38-year-old right-hander cleared waivers or was claimed.
“We can’t comment until we find out who has claimed him, if anyone has claimed him, or if he’s gone through,” Rizzo explained.
“Again, same trade strategy as ever. If we can get the right deal at the right time that helps us in ‘18 and beyond we’ll certainly be open-minded to do something.”
Apparently the Los Angeles Dodgers, who were revealed as the team that claimed Madson earlier this week, made the right offer:
#Dodgers acquiring Ryan Madson from #Nationals, source tells The Athletic. Return not yet known. Claim of Madson first reported by @kengurnick.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 31, 2018
Madson is going to dodgers. Nats get a prospect. @Ken_Rosenthal 1st
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 31, 2018
#Dodgers are finalizing a trade to acquire Ryan Madson from #Nationals. @Ken_Rosenthal Heard 1 player going back to Washington in deal
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 31, 2018
Acquired from the Oakland A’s along with closer Sean Doolittle last July, Madson put up a 4.08 ERA with 18 walks and 69 Ks in 64 innings with the Nationals. He’s struggled so far in 2018, missing time with a right pectoral strain and a back issue, but he returned from the Disabled List earlier this week before he was placed on waivers and claimed.
No word on the return as of now (2:00 PM), but as USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale noted, the Nationals are saving around $1.2M by dealing Madson at this point, in the final month before he’s set to hit free agency.
The #Nats are saving $1.2 million with the trade of Ryan Madson to the #Dodgers
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 31, 2018
Fancred’s Jon Heyman wrote yesterday that with the recent moves they’ve made, “the Nats remain a bit over the luxury tax threshold,” while predicting that Gio Gonzalez might be the next/last player dealt this season.
Are Mike Rizzo and Co. in the front office in the nation’s capital done dealing at this point or are they done shaving payroll off as they prepare for the 2019 season (and beyond), and will they get anyone of note back from the Dodgers?
We have that answer now, actually, the Nationals are getting 25-year-old right-handed reliever Andrew Istler from LA in return for Madson:
#Nationals are getting Andrew Istler from #Dodgers for Madson
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 31, 2018
Istler, a 2015 23rd Round pick out of Duke, has put up a 2.37 ERA with 19 walks and 73 Ks in 79 2⁄3 IP between High-A, Double, and Triple-A in the Dodgers’ system this season.