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Washington Nationals “hot” after Craig Kimbrel

By Michael Natelli

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the Washington Nationals are the “hottest” team after San Diego Padres Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel is one of several big names and big contracts that the Padres are looking to unload prior to Friday’s non-waiver trade deadline.

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While Washington’s interest in Kimbrel may seem confusing with Drew Storen already in the fold, the Nationals bullpen past Storen has been shaky at times, making Kimbrel desirable. And with big names and big contracts taking up the majority of the club’s starting jobs, Mike Rizzo is in the difficult position of finding out how to improve without creating logjams when his injured, expensive veterans return. So with that all being said, it appears Washington will invest in the bullpen. Kimbrel tormented the Nationals for years as a member of the Braves, so they know as well as any team what he’s capable of.

Because his numbers this year are inferior to those 0f fellow Nationals trade target Aroldis Chapman, Kimbrel will likely come at a slightly cheaper price than the Reds fireballer. Cincinnati is reportedly asking for “three higher-level prospects” for their closer, while Kimbrel could likely be had for one top prospect and a pair of mid-tier players with the Padres desperate to unload contracts.

The Nationals haven’t been the World Series favorite, dominant club that many pegged them to be this year, but they still sit atop the National League East and have several injured veterans returning over the course of the next month. With that being said, Washington still has a chance to become a significantly better ballclub even without making moves, and a deadline move or two could still make them serious World Series threats. And they know it.

“I will almost bet my house that he will do something big,” a friend of Rizzo told Rosenthal. Whether that’s Kimbrel, Chapman or someone else, it appears the Nationals are poised to make some headlines before 4 PM EST on Friday.

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