Washington Nationals evaluate trade-deadline acquisitions and departures
The Nationals traded Curtis Mead, Luis Garcia Jr. and Foster Griffin before the deadline, receiving several pitching prospects in return, and analysts assigned grades to each deal.
Washington, D.C. – As the Washington Nationals entered the trade deadline amid a losing streak, the club executed three major transactions focused on bolstering its pitching staff.
In early July, the Nationals sent power hitter Curtis Mead to the Boston Red Sox for left-handed starter Connelly Early. Early, a 24-year-old rookie, posted a 3.44 ERA with 93 strikeouts over 91.2 innings this season, though his advanced metrics indicated room for improvement.
A day before the deadline, the team dealt Luis Garcia Jr., who was leading the National League in slugging, to the New York Yankees. In return, Washington received right-hander Yovanny Cruz, left-hander Jack Cebert, right-hander Ben Grable and right-hander Jake Bird, adding depth to both the rotation and bullpen.
The final move saw the Nationals trade left-handed starter Foster Griffin to the Texas Rangers for outfielder Josh Hartle, reliever Will Dion, pitcher Kendeglys Virguez and outfielder Nick Mitchell, further increasing organizational pitching depth.
Analysts graded the Mead-Early trade an A-, the Garcia package a B/B-, and the Griffin deal a D, resulting in an overall assessment of C+ for the deadline activity.