MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox, Angels Interested in Nationals Lannan

Now that the Nationals have signed Edwin Jackson, rumors have begun to swirl regarding the club’s stable of arms.  While Washington has indicated otherwise, some have said that the Nationals will look to trade pitcher John Lannan this spring.  These rumors have developed to the point where today we have interested teams being listed and even players named in potential deals.  According to Nick Carfado of the Boston Globe, the Angels and Red Sox could be two potential landing spots if the Nationals do decide to trade Lannan.

After bringing Jackson into the fold, the Nationals have seven potential starting pitchers for five spots, and Lannan himself was likely bumped down to the fifth spot in Washington’s rotation.  The left-hander is set to make $5 million in 2012, and this together with their newly acquired pitching depth is leading some to speculate that the Nationals could look to deal him this spring.

For what it’s worth, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has denied these reports.  Following the Jackson signing, Rizzo told reporters that the club didn’t make the signing in order to trade another arm.  Rizzo sees Lannan as a starter and is comfortable heading into the season with his current collection of pitchers.

While this may be the case, Rizzo also admitted that he would have to listen to offers that could potentially make his club better.

This leads to Carfado’s Sunday article in which he’s reporting that there’s a lot of talk going around involving Lannan to the Angels.  In exchange for the 27-year-old, Los Angeles would ship center fielder Peter Bourjos, who the Nationals have eyed in the past, to D.C.   The Nationals have been searching for a center fielder, seemingly forever, and the Angels have top prospect Mike Trout waiting in the wings.

Carfado also notes that the Red Sox could be a potential fit for Lannan, though no deal has been discussed as of yet.  While Boston doesn’t have a center fielder to send Washington, a source told Carfado that this may not be required to land Lannan.  The major league source said the Nationals don’t have to get a center fielder “as long as they get a center fielder another way”.  Instead of acquiring a center fielder this spring, the Nationals could look to move Jayson Werth over to fill the position.

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