Washington Nationals reportedly trade Max Scherzer & Trea Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers for four prospects, including LA’s top 2...

Washington Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo talked about the possibility of trading Max Scherzer or Trea Turner separately with 106.7 the FAN in D.C.’s Sports Junkies yesterday, explaining what it would take to get one or the other.

According to multiple reports tonight, the three-time Cy Young award-winner and the Nats’ starting shortstop are both being dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a prospect package that includes catcher Keibert Ruiz and right-hander Josiah Gray, the top player and pitcher in the Dodgers’ organization, and “two mid-range prospects” as the Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal described them.

Discussing the possibility of trading Scherzer, 37, and playing out the final year of a seven-year/$210M deal with the club, Rizzo said the pitcher, who he drafted while the director of scouting in Arizona then signed as the GM in Washington, could potentially be a franchise-bolstering move.

“We have talked quite a bit over the past couple weeks about the possibility of being traded at the deadline, and he gets it,” Rizzo said of talks with Scherzer. “He understands it. We want to make sure that we do what’s right for Max and what’s right for the organization.”

Acquiring Turner, 28 (currently on the COVID-IL), and headed for free agency after 2022, and with whom the Nationals have in the past discussed a potential long-term deal, Rizzo said, would take an offer that knocked his socks off.

“You want to trade for Trea Turner? You’ve got to come and get him, because he makes your team when you trade for him,” Rizzo told the Junkies.

“It’s got to be a deal that we can’t walk away from and we can’t refuse,” Rizzo said. “I think Trea understands that. He knows the game as well as anybody I’ve ever been around, and he knows my affection for him and my affinity for his game.”

“If something were to happen where we got an offer that we couldn’t refuse, he would understand it, and it would be the best thing for the organization.

“But, with that said, I told you the parameters that would have to happen for us to do that deal.”

Apparently the Dodgers made Rizzo an offer he couldn’t refuse, because multiple reports now say that this thing is happening.

Former Nationals’ GM Jim Bowden reported on Twitter that the final deal sends Scherzer and Turner to LA in return for Ruiz, Gray, right-hander Gerardo Carillo (No. 17 on MLB’s prospect list for the Dodgers), and outfielder Donovan Casey, a 25-year-old, 2017 20th Round pick who has a .296/.362/.462 line, 15 doubles, and 11 home runs in 73 games at Double-A in the Dodgers’ system this season.

Are you impressed or disappointed with the reported return for two months+ of Scherzer and a year+ of Turner?

Should Rizzo be pointing to his head?

And when do they announce an extension with Juan Soto?

Also, who’s the top free agent pitcher on the market this winter?