Did the Nationals Get the Outfielder They Really Wanted?

The offseason has not been particularly kind to the Washington Nationals. They came on like gangbusters in the beginning, shouting their intentions to be in on everybody. They pulled no punches about their yen for Chris Sale. And as the talk grew louder with the Pirates teasing the world with the idea that Andrew McCutchen is available, the Nationals banged the drum about him, too.

Throughout all of this, though, there was no mention of the player they would wind up with in Adam Eaton. Backed into a corner, the Nationals made the only move that was open for them. But maybe not, and they simply miscalculated… again!

As a fan of baseball, and a fan of the Nationals in particular, would you trade Andrew McCutchen straight up in a deal for Adam Eaton? If your answer is yes, then you should be happy that the Nationals were able to get Eaton from the White Sox. But if your answer is no, then you must be wondering the same thing that I am.

Why would the Nationals close the door on a deal for McCutchen by sending three of their top prospects, including numbers one and three, to the White Sox for Eaton and leave themselves with virtually nothing to offer Pittsburgh for McCutchen?

Nationals: We’ll Take Eaton and Go Home

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Because essentially, that’s exactly what they’ve done. And perhaps it’s even more telling that they made the deal for Eaton in the heat of the moment just after the Red Sox sneaked in there, grabbing

right out from under them.

Was the trade for Eaton done by a team that was throwing its hands up in frustration and bewilderment, and as a way to not walk away from the Winter Meetings empty-handed? Or were the Nationals convinced the Pirates were never going to trade McCutchen anyway, so why not make the deal?

It better be the latter. Because otherwise, this is just another example of a franchise that has lost its way home, and one that is playing pin the tail on the player – blindfolded.

Nationals Are Playing in a Different Sandbox

It could be that the Nationals are just playing in the wrong market. And they should be working to fill holes by signing free agents where things are pretty much cut and dry. You target a player, make an offer, and get a simple yes or no answer back. And usually that answer comes back quickly.

Whereas with trades, things move along much more slowly. And over time, you can find yourself discussing Player D because your first three offers of A, B, and C have all been rejected by the team you are dealing with over a period of three weeks. And that’s assuming that the player(s) you want are actually available and you’re not up against a team that’s just kicking tires.

Whatever it is, though, something ain’t quite right with the Nationals. They win, but they never win anything. They draw fans to their games, but there’s never any buzz about the team. They have a superstar in right field, but he acts like he’s totally out in “left field” half the time. One and one never seems to make two with them.

Next: Royals Doomed to Be One-Hit Wonders

Adam Eaton is a fine player and he should help the Nationals a lot. But if indeed they had targeted Andrew McCutchen as the player that they wanted this offseason, as it seems they did, then they should still be in there still fighting to get him. And they should still have those same three prospects that the White Sox might have taken for Chris Sale if they were ever offered. Certainly, those same prospects would have looked good to the Pirates as well if that was a package offered for McCutchen.

Instead, they have Adam Eaton and no direction home.