MLB trade rumors: Nationals holding on to Bryce Harper, but still make a deal

by Felix Pantaleón

The MLB non-waiver trade deadline is Tuesday, July 31, 2018 (7/31/18) at 4 p.m. The struggling Washington Nationals might be willing to move outfielder Bryce Harper, the 2015 National League MVP and reigning Home Run Derby champion. Complicating matters is the fact Harper will be a free agent after the 2018 season.

UPDATE (3:54 p.m.): Nationals are done dealing:

#Nats don’t expect to make any more moves before the deadline, source says. Kintzler to Cubs for a Single-A pitching prospect is it.

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) July 31, 2018

UPDATE (3:06 p.m.): Nationals and Cubs complete a deal:

#Cubs have acquired Brandon Kintzler from #Nats, source confirms @Ken_Rosenthal and @sahadevsharma report. @MLB @MLBNetwork

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 31, 2018

UPDATE (2:59 p.m.): Nationals making a smaller deal?

#Cubs close to getting Brandon Kintzler from #Nationals, sources tell me and @sahadevsharma.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2018

UPDATE (10:59 a.m.): By holding onto Harper, the Nationals are going all-in for the NL East division title. Washington is 5.5 games behind the first-place Phillies.

The #Nats say they likely will retain all of their relievers as well and go for the NL East title

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 31, 2018

The Red Sox talked with Washington about Kelvin Herrera, but Nats informed other teams overnight they will try to win this year, so Herrera off the table — but they are willing to discuss either Gio Gonzalez or Jeremy Hellickson.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 31, 2018

Not only is Bryce Harper staying put, #Nats GM Mike Rizzo says, but most likely starter Gio Gonzalez and entire bullpen staying as well

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 31, 2018

UPDATE (10:39 a.m.): Nationals holding on to Harper?

Mike Rizzo just reached out with this message:

“Bryce is not going anywhere. I believe in this team.”

— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) July 31, 2018

UPDATE (10:35 a.m.): Four teams to watch:

Most intriguing teams to watch at today’s non-waiver trade deadline: #Nats, #Phillies, #Dodgers #Cubs. All expected to make moves, although no one believes Bryce Harper will be traded unless mandated by ownership.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 31, 2018

UPDATE (10:01 a.m.): Bryce Harper skeptics:

There’s going to be a lot of Bryce Harper hysteria out there today, but the chances of him being moved by 4 p.m. are extremely remote, sources say. (If this is wrong and he’s in another uniform in 6 hours, feel free to tweet me). #Nationals

— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 31, 2018

UPDATE (9:44 a.m.): ESPN’s Buster Olney lists four possible landing spots for Harper: Indians, Cubs, Dodgers, Diamondbacks.

UPDATE (9:22 a.m.): Are the Phillies be in the mix for Harper?

Harper still seems unlikely to be traded, but some rivals suggest the team to go for it should be Philly: 1. they have the $, threshold space. 2. they tried for Adam jones and other OF. 3. they are in 1st place. 4. they’re expected to go hard for harper and/or machado this winter

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2018

A month ago, it was laughable. A week ago it was just too twisted to consider. But here we are, less than eight hours before the non-waiver trade deadline, and the Washington Nationals are considering trading outfielder Bryce Harper.

rivals continue to believe bryce harper is long shot to be traded. nats are only 5.5 games out & they’d risk fan revolt. also, they wouldn’t get haul as rental. o’s did well getting yusniel plus 4 for machado. but market is better for a ss/3B & manny was hitting 100 points higher

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2018

The Nationals are in a tough spot. The are one game under .500, in third place in the National League East, 5.5 games behind the first-place Philadelphia Phillies.

The Nationals are in eighth place in the NL Wild Card Race.

Harper will be a free agent after the season. Chances are slim-to-none that he will re-sign with Washington. So if the Nationals don’t think they have one more playoff run in them this fall, trading Harper now would at least guarantee getting something back in return for the 2015 National League MVP and reigning Home Run Derby champion.

Harper is hitting a career-worst .220 this season but he is tied for second in the NL with 25 home runs this season.

That power potential will have deep-pocketed teams like the Yankees and Phillies making a run at Harper in the offseason.

Trade deadline: LIVE updates

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal explains how a potential Harper deadline deal would work:

The Nationals are indeed sending “feelers” out to potentially interested clubs on Harper, “seeing if someone wants to go crazy,” according to a rival executive.

…

The Arizona Diamondbacks would be a perfect match — the Nats could trade Harper for left-hander Patrick Corbin in a swap of potential free agents, and possibly acquire one of the DBacks’ three catchers as well.

The Cleveland Indians are perhaps an even better fit for Harper, though they do not match up as well with a starting pitcher, not when Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer all are under multi-year control. Well, maybe add to the package to get Bauer. Or take a younger, more controllable starter such as Mike Clevinger or Shane Bieber.

Get creative. Figure something out. If not with the DBacks, if not with the Indians, then some other club.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.