Nats get an early move on Trade Deadline

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WASHINGTON -- Since 2021, the Nationals have been active at the Trade Deadline swapping veterans and expiring deals for prospect packages. The 2024 Deadline is not until July 30, but the Nats got a jump start on making moves.

Last Saturday’s trade of setup reliever Hunter Harvey to the Royals in exchange for the 39th overall Draft pick and third-base prospect Cayden Wallace was the Nationals’ first deal of the season.

“We're always busy at the Deadline, whether we're hunting championships or rebuilding or in the mix of both,” general manager Mike Rizzo said on Friday. “So it's always an active Trade Deadline season, and we're looking forward to the challenge to improve our club for this year and for the future. But we'll be busy, we'll be active, we'll be aggressive. It's all about getting pieces to put on that roster to get us our next championship.”

The Harvey deal was made 2 1/2 weeks before the Deadline, but also one day before the Draft. The Nats quickly used that selection to pick catcher Caleb Lomavita from the University of California in the competitive balance round.

“We found a deal that we really liked,” Rizzo said. “We felt that the impact of the 39th pick, along with the slot money that went along with that and with a really good player for a really good relief pitcher, was something that we had to jump on.”

Wallace, 22, is now ranked as the Nationals’ No. 6 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. He had caught the Nats’ attention ahead of the 2022 Draft, when he was selected in the second round by the Royals. Wallace advanced to Double-A this season before being sidelined on May 22 with a right oblique strain.

“We feel we got ourselves an upside guy that can impact a baseball game,” Rizzo said. “[He] plays really good defense at third, he's got a really good arm, he's got power potential and he's a really good hitter, so we liked the skill set. We did our makeup work on him and we thought that this was a guy that fits the Washington Nationals-type of player, and gives us another really good prospect to develop to become a big leaguer.”

In order to acquire this pair of prospects, the Nationals parted ways with a key member of their bullpen. Rizzo described Harvey as “an organizational success story.” The 2013 first-round Draft pick had battled injuries in his early career with the Orioles, then he was later picked up by the Giants in November 2021. Harvey was designated for assignment by the Giants on March 14, 2022, and Washington claimed the right-hander on March 22.

In two-plus seasons with the Nationals, Harvey emerged as a dominant late-inning reliever and an option to close. He went 8-9 with 10 saves, a 3.17 ERA and a 1.083 WHIP in 145 innings (138 appearances).

“We got him healthy, we escalated his repertoire and helped him develop some pitches to go along with the blazing fastball that he's always had,” Rizzo said. “But really a scouting triumph, a player development triumph. The coaches at the big league level did a terrific job with him, and his makeup and his clubhouse presence were great. To turn that into a really good prospect and the 39th pick, we felt it was important for us to do that for the future of the franchise.”

There are still nine days before the Trade Deadline for the Nationals to make additional moves that could further their reboot. Veteran outfielder Jesse Winker is one of the top candidates.

“I think we're going in the right direction,” said Rizzo. “I think we're on time and doing the right things. I think that when you look at where we were when we started this thing in 2021, I think it's palpable, I think you can feel it. … I think you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I think the fan base knows what we're doing. I think they appreciate the way that these guys get after it. You can see the progress and the process working as we move forward.”