By Noah Hickman
Listen to blog:
Every time during the midst of an MLB season comes the trade deadline and to say that this one has been exuberant and exciting would be a huge understatement.
One example, the New York Yankees were able to get left handed hitters in Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo, and though that may not save them this season, it will bring them back into championship contention next year if they can keep all its pieces.
Now, here‘s the part where I whine and complain to a different Rizzo — Washington Nationals general manager and president of baseball operations, Mike Rizzo.
What the hell are you doing?
Less than two years ago my Nationals were proudly hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy; now we are throwing away value like the Houston Texans.
Thursday the 29th started off well with Max Scherzer winning his final start as a National 3-1 while pitching six innings while only giving up one earned run in a doubleheader.
That is the perfect way to send off a pitcher who has meant everything to the Nationals organization and consistently plays with grit and fire.
Not surprisingly, he and Trea Turner got traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Now look, I get trading Scherzer who is approaching 38 years of age since the Nationals want to make sure his trade value is still high.
With Trevor Bauer on administrative leave due to a whacked up sexual assault case, Scherzer is the perfect replacement.
I do not understand why Trea Turner had to come with him considering that the Nationals got people barely anybody has heard of in return.
The Nationals got the Dodgers top two prospects in catcher Keibert Ruiz and pitcher Josiah Gray.
They also got pitcher Gerardo Carrillo, the Dodgers’ 17th-ranked prospect, and outfielder Donovan Casey in the Scherzer-Turner trade blockbuster.
I disagree with the decision of trading Trea Turner because I know the Nationals are in rebuilding mode and when a team rebuilds, they need at least a couple building blocks to get prospects and free agents excited.
With all of that being said this is not even close to the peak of my frustration.
The Nationals traded almost everybody away for the sake of rebuilding.
When Mike Rizzo said “If we turn into definite sellers, everything will be on the table, I would think,” I did not think he meant everything (silly me).
If you think I’m exaggerating here’s the rest of the list:
The Nationals trade second baseman/outfielder Josh Harrison and catcher Yan Gomes to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for catcher Drew Millas, RHP Richard Guasch and RHP Seth Shuman.
The Nationals trade LHP/closer Brad Hand to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor league catcher Riley Adams.
The Nationals trade RHP Daniel Hudson to the San Diego Padres for RHP Mason Thompson and shortstop Jordy Barley. Both are in the minors.
The Nationals trade starting LHP Jon Lester to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for outfielder Lane Thomas.
The Nationals trade Kyle Schwarber and get minor league RHP Aldo Ramirez in return.
The last guy I listed, you know, the one who got traded to the Red Sox, tied a modern day home run record by hitting 12 home runs in 10 games.
The stretch started on Jun. 19, 2021 and ended on Jun. 29, 10 days later.
The only other guy who did what Schwarber did was former Cleveland Indians outfielder Albert Belle.
His stretch lasted two more days than Schwarber’s starting on Sept. 15, 1995 and ending on Sept. 27.
Yet for some reason, one of the few players who gave me joy on the Nationals is gone.
If the Nationals want to rebuild and better yet build around Juan Soto this is not the way to do it.
Soto is less likely to re-sign with the Nationals after this complete overhaul; no sane person should.
If Soto manages to not request a trade next season, manages to stay on the Nationals until 2025 (which is when he can hit free agency) and then re-signs with the Nationals, I will kiss him on the lips for his unwavering loyalty.
Until then, the Nationals are going to be one of the worst teams in the league.
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