Nationals trade deadline plan could mix buying and selling
Washington sits at .500 near the Aug. 3 MLB deadline, with reports saying it may add pitching while listening on key players.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
The Nationals trade deadline plan is shaping up as one of baseball’s trickier balancing acts: Washington is close enough to chase a playoff spot, yet still open to dealing from its big-league roster, according to reports from The Athletic, the New York Post and CBS Sports.
CBS Sports reported that the Nationals entered Saturday at 52-52, three games out of a playoff position, with the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline a little more than a week away. That puts Washington in the murky middle of a market where many clubs still have reason to buy.
The same report said only eight of MLB’s 30 teams were more than four games out of a playoff spot at that point. That leaves a crowded field of potential buyers and a smaller group of clear sellers, a setup that can make available players more expensive.
What are the Nationals doing at the trade deadline?
The Athletic reported that Washington intends to consider additions before the deadline, though any moves may be modest and could be offset by players the club trades away. In plain terms, the Nationals could try to improve the current roster without abandoning their longer-term plan.
That is the tightrope for new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, according to CBS Sports. The Nationals have outperformed expectations by staying around .500, but the front office is not expected to throw its broader rebuild or roster plan aside for a short-term push.
The Athletic reported that the major-league club needs pitching, including help for both the rotation and a bullpen that has struggled. Pitching is often one of the most sought-after deadline needs, and Washington’s reported interest in adding arms comes while other teams are also shopping in a thin seller’s market.
At the same time, The Athletic reported that All-Stars Foster Griffin and C.J. Abrams are drawing interest from other clubs. That does not mean either player will be moved, but it places two notable Nationals names in the deadline conversation.
Griffin’s situation carries extra intrigue. The New York Post reported that extension talks between the left-hander and the Nationals ended quickly, while CBS Sports noted he is pitching on a one-year, $5.5 million contract after returning to the majors from a stint in Japan.
Griffin, 30, has been one of Washington’s standout pickups, according to CBS Sports. He is 11-2 with a 2.68 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP and 111 strikeouts across 117 1/3 innings.
Abrams was also named by The Athletic as a player attracting outside interest. The report did not say Washington is committed to trading him, only that other teams have shown interest as the deadline approaches.
Athletics add Dallas Keuchel on minor-league deal
Elsewhere in MLB deadline chatter, ESPN reported that the Athletics signed left-hander Dallas Keuchel to a minor-league contract. Keuchel is 38 and has not pitched in affiliated baseball this season, according to CBS Sports.
Keuchel last appeared in the majors with the Brewers in 2024, when he made four starts and posted a 5.40 ERA, CBS Sports reported. In 2025, he pitched in Triple-A for the Royals organization, going 2-1 with a 3.53 ERA in seven starts.
The Athletics’ move gives the former Cy Young winner a route back into affiliated ball. For Washington, the bigger deadline question remains whether a surprise .500 season turns into a cautious push, a selective selloff or both at once.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.