The Washington Nationals are gauging interest in some free agents-to-be from other teams and will know by Sunday whether they will be “sellers” at the trade deadline, Yahoo Sports reported on Thursday.
Relief pitchers Kelvin Herrera, Ryan Madson and Shawn Kelley are all being discussed, reporter Jeff Passan wrote on Twitter.
Sources: The Washington Nationals have started discussions with teams to gauge interest if they decide to sell. Of particular interest are Kelvin Herrera, Shawn Kelley and Ryan Madson, three free-agent-to-be relievers. Nats are telling teams they’ll know by end of weekend.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 26, 2018
It’s worth noting explicitly: The Nationals have not decided to sell. They’re doing what any prudent team in their position would: getting a sense of the market so if they do decide to sell, they can put together deals that normally take days in 24 hours. It’s the right play.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 26, 2018
The trade deadline is July 31.
One pending free agent whose name is not on that list: Bryce Harper. General manager Mike Rizzo declined to say on 106.7 FM Wednesday that a Harper trade was 100 percent off the table, but added that “it would have to be a spectacular set of circumstances” for the Nationals to make a move.
After losing two of three games at the Milwaukee Brewers, Washington is 50-51 and seven games behind first place in the NL East. The Nationals begin a four-game set at the bottom-feeding Miami Marlins on Thursday. Perhaps management is willing to see if the team can spark a late-season turnaround by playing the Marlins before choosing to sell off assets.
Herrera has only been with the Nationals since June 18, when the Kansas City Royals traded him east to a team that felt more like a prime NL contender than it does today.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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