The Washington Nationals have a win-now roster and are looking to hit an offseason home run with the MLB Winter Meetings set to begin Monday in Maryland.
The Nats have been linked in trade rumors involving Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen and Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Sale in recent weeks, but USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweeted Sunday night that Washington wants to acquire both players.
Washington lost in a five-game National League Division Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers in October. The Nationals have won or finished second in the NL East division each of the last five seasons, but all three of their postseason appearances during that span ended in the NLDS.
Pitching is their primary need, and few starters are better than Sale, who went 17-10 with a 3.34 ERA and 233 strikeouts this past season despite pitching for a bad White Sox team.
Adding a bat wouldn’t be a bad option, either, especially a former NL MVP such as McCutchen. He batted .256 with 24 home runs and 79 RBI in a disappointing 2016 season.
Both players likely will cost a boatload of quality assets, particularly Sale, who’s in his prime and has a team-friendly contract.
The challenge for Washington is acquiring one or both players and holding on to 23-year-old center fielder Trea Turner — a star in the making.
Either way, given the age and competitiveness of the Nationals’ roster, it makes sense to go all-in and make the needed additions for a World Series run.
Thumbnail photo via Matt Marton/USA TODAY Sports Images