Blockbuster trades make the headlines in sports, and the distinction for the biggest baseball trade of this off-season belongs to the Diamondbacks and the Braves. The Braves dangled Shelby Miller out there like a great angler does with his favorite lure to catch that prized bass. The DBacks bit hard and gave up their #1 overall pick from the 2015 draft Dansby Swanson plus Aaron Blair and Ender Inciarte in that trade.
The Nats don’t have a Shelby Miller type to trade; however, Rizzo does have a Fedde and a Voth and Wilmer Difo to dangle along with Drew Storen who has value and some throw-ins like Tyler Moore and Erik Davis.
Another strategy for Rizzo would be to add a Free Agent starting pitcher like Mike Leake or Wei Yin-Chen and then trade a pitcher like Gio Gonzalez as currency to fill some of the needs that the Nats have been looking for in a lefty 2nd baseman and a lefty centerfielder. The Nats need to look towards the trade route where the fit should be better than looking at the Free Agents where the risk is greater given the age, cost, years of service, and questionable projectible statistics.
Nationals shopped SP Gio Gonzalez to the Marlins for OF Christian Yelich, but trade declined#GioGonzalez #Nationals https://t.co/UjX6mbE54p
— DMV Fanatics (@DMVFanatics) December 15, 2015
The Nats have been linked to numerous Free Agents this off-season and quite a few trades also. The rumor mill is full of all types of possible transactions. Today was no exception with Bill Ladson mentioning Brandon Phillips and Daniel Murphy.
Nationals showing interest in Phillips, Murphy https://t.co/PD4goub89n via @mlb
— William Ladson (@ladsonbill24) December 16, 2015
The rumors will continue and persist for several weeks more. Never underestimate Mike Rizzo as he usually surprises the fanbase each off-season with a big move or two. As Don aka Zmunchkin reminded us that exactly 1 year ago Rizzo did just that when he traded Steven Souza for Trea Turner (the infamous PTBNL) and Joe Ross. Stay tuned, Mike Rizzo is on the clock……….
UPDATED: 12/17/2015 8:50PM: Being told by source that Brandon Phillips trade is done in principle. Not sure what that means. More updates to follow.
9:10PM: Phillips showing on his Twitter he’s flying from Cincy to DC
