Washington Nationals

The Boston Red Sox confirmed Thursday they acquired Kyle Schwarber from the Washington Nationals for minor league pitcher Aldo Ramirez.

The Red Sox also designated Brandon Workman for assignment to open up a spot on their 40-man roster.

Following a disappointing 2020 season, Schwarber earned his first All-Star appearance this season. Through 72 games, he's slugging .570 with 25 home runs, 53 RBI and a 150 OPS-plus, per Baseball Reference.

The Red Sox are 1.5 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays and have an 8.5-game lead on the New York Yankees in the American League East. The front office may have felt pressed to act after both Tampa Bay and New York made moves to strengthen their rosters prior to Friday's MLB trade deadline.

The Rays added Nelson Cruz, while the Yankees went a step further. On Thursday, the Bronx Bombers confirmed the additions of Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo.

Schwarber hasn't played since July 2 after suffering a hamstring strain. When he makes his Red Sox debut, he might be in unfamiliar territory on the diamond.

J.D. Martinez is the everyday designated hitter, and he'd be a defensive downgrade from Alex Verdugo or Hunter Renfroe in one of the two corner outfield spots. Schwarber will serve as a solid platoon option for Renfroe.

For the most part, though, that leaves first base, which is an area Boston could benefit from upgrading. The issue is, the 28-year-old has logged zero innings at first in an MLB game.

All things considered, it's still not a bad deal for the Red Sox.

Ramirez is 1-1 with a 2.03 ERA through eight Single-A appearances in 2021. MLB.com ranks the 20-year-old as the 19th-best prospect in Boston's minor league system and projects his MLB arrival in 2023.

Taking a flier on the right-hander makes sense for the Nationals, who are headed for a rebuild. And giving him up doesn't come at a steep cost for the Sox.

Washington Nationals slugger Kyle Schwarber has reportedly drawn significant buzz on the trade market, with the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays among those interested, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Schwarber has been on the injured list with a hamstring injury and hasn't played since July 2, but he could be nearing a return.

Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post reported the left fielder took batting practice last weekend and jogged in the outfield.

When healthy, Schwarber has been a difference-maker with 25 home runs and 53 RBI in 72 games. His .253 batting average and .570 slugging percentage would each be a career high for the former Chicago Cub.

The 28-year-old had an eye-popping stretch from June 12 to June 29 in which he hit 16 home runs in 18 games and slashed .348/.403/1.043 before the injury.

While there have been questions about consistency and defensive ability throughout his career, Schwarber has remained an elite power hitter.

He could be a significant addition for any team, especially the AL East squads looking to make a run this postseason.

The Yankees have a lot of big names in their lineup but entered Thursday just 25th in the league in runs scored. They already added fellow left-handed hitting outfielder Joey Gallo in a trade with the Texas Rangers, but Schwarber could provide even more depth offensively and further balance a lineup that has lacked lefty pop.

Boston could use more established lefties in its lineup besides Rafael Devers and Alex Verdugo, too, while the added offense could help offset a pitching staff that's stayed afloat but isn't stacked with talent. If the Red Sox can't find a starter before Friday's trade deadline and Chris Sale doesn't return to ace form in an expected comeback from Tommy John surgery, they might just have to outscore everyone down the stretch.

The Blue Jays are likely seeking an offensive upgrade over the struggling Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the outfield mix, while Schwarber would also spend plenty of time at designated hitter when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is at first base.

Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner was removed from Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies after testing positive for COVID-19, the team announced.

Turner's name has come up frequently in trade talks this week as MLB's Friday deadline looms. It's unclear how much time he may miss. 

Per MLB's guidelines:

"Individuals who test positive will be required to isolate for a minimum of 10 days, receive appropriate care and monitoring from the Club medical staff, and be cleared by the Joint Committee and the individual’s team physician, following a mandatory cardiac evaluation and a determination that the individual no longer presents a risk of infection to others."

The Nationals have a roster that's very top-heavy, so losing any of their top players for a period of time is going to put a lot of pressure on the rest of the team. Turner is crucial to their success because of his consistency with the bat and speed to disrupt opposing pitchers on the bases. 

Turner was excellent last season, finishing with a .335/.394/.588 slash line and 12 homers in 59 games. He's been equally great so far in 2021 with an .887 OPS and 18 stolen bases in 95 appearances. 

Injuries have often been a problem for the North Carolina State alum throughout his career. He has missed at least 40 games in three of the past four seasons before 2020. 

Washington's lineup isn't deep in star power, but they have several players capable of putting up big power numbers. Juan Soto is arguably the best hitter in Major League Baseball. Josh Bell and Kyle Schwarber were key offseason additions expected to provide some pop, but the Nationals have struggled to a 45-54 record to this point. 

Until Turner is able to return, Gerardo Parra and Andrew Stevenson will likely see more playing time in the outfield for manager Davey Martinez, with Alcides Escobar getting more reps at short.

Despite not having a timetable to return from an injured hamstring, Kyle Schwarber is reportedly generating interest from teams on the trade market. 

Per Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post, there is a "good amount of interest" in the Washington Nationals star right now. 

Schwarber hasn't appeared in a game since July 2 when he strained his hamstring rounding first base in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Per Savannah McCann of MLB.com, the Nationals didn't put a timetable on Schwarber's return after an MRI revealed a "significant strain in the right hamstring."

Prior to the injury, Schwarber was in the midst of the hottest streak of his career. The 28-year-old hit 16 homers with a .348/.403/1.043 slash line in 18 games from June 12-29. He was named to the National League All-Star team but was unable to play after getting hurt. 

Washington won 14 of those 18 games to get over the .500 mark at 39-38. The team has lost 16 of 22 games since June 30 and has fallen 8.5 games behind the New York Mets in the NL East race. 

Schwarber's bat would make him a formidable addition for any playoff contender down the stretch, as long as he is able to return to the field at some point.

The Nationals signed Schwarber to a one-year, $10 million contract during the offseason.    

Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg will undergo neurogenic thoracic outlet surgery on Wednesday, a procedure that will end his 2021 season.

The Nationals are hopeful the 33-year-old will be ready for the start of next season.

Strasburg's last outing on June 1 was cut short after just 1.1 innings. Nats manager Davey Martinez told reporters the right-hander had trouble getting loose and couldn't find his rhythm on the mound. That was apparent as Strasburg's velocity was noticeably down against the Atlanta Braves. 

A subsequent MRI of a tight right trapezius muscle led Washington to place its longtime starter on the 10-day injured list, but his timetable to return remained uncertain with what was officially being called a neck strain. 

Strasburg later experienced a setback in the middle of July, which led to the team reducing his activities.

He finishes the season having gone 1-2 with a 4.57 ERA in five starts, striking out 21 batters in 21.2 innings of work.

The 2009 No. 1 overall draft pick has seemingly battled injuries since breaking into the big leagues. Washington has responded with extreme patience and cautiousness each time, and that should be no different this time around. 

With Strasburg and others out, the Nationals (45-54) have had a hard time keeping pace with the National League East-leading New York Mets (53-45). As Friday's trade deadline approaches, Washington currently sits 11.5 games out of a playoff spot, leading to the possibility of a fire sale at the deadline.

As the Washington Nationals weigh if they should sell at Friday's trade deadline, one thing the front office reportedly won't consider is moving Max Scherzer to a key division rival. 

Per SNY's Andy Martino, there is "no chance" the Nationals would deal the three-time Cy Young Award winner to the New York Mets regardless of the offer. 

The Nationals haven't historically been sellers at the trade deadline, but 16 losses in their past 21 games have them 8.5 games behind the Mets in the NL East race and 11.5 games out of the second NL Wild Card spot. 

The Mets' starting rotation has been decimated by injuries this season. Jacob deGrom, David Peterson and Joey Lucchesi are all on the injured list. 

New York did acquire Rich Hill from the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday to give the rotation some depth for the stretch run. 

Per Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post, Scherzer is willing to waive his no-trade rights if the Nationals receive a trade proposal that intrigues them before Friday's 4 p.m. ET deadline. 

There's no indication at this point that Washington will deal Scherzer, but teams have reportedly made overtures. 

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Tampa Bay Rays have had "preliminary discussions" about Scherzer and Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant. 

Passan did note the potential cost "in dollars, prospects or both" could be greater than the Rays want to pay for Scherzer, who will become a free agent this offseason. 

Given the thin market for starting pitchers leading up to the deadline, Scherzer's value could be exceedingly high for a two-month rental. The 37-year-old has a long track record of dominance on the mound, including seven consecutive top-five finishes in Cy Young voting from 2013 to '19. 

Scherzer has a 2.83 ERA with 142 strikeouts and 68 hits allowed in 105 innings over 18 starts in 2021.    

If the Washington Nationals decide to trade starting pitcher Max Scherzer, the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are the top suitors for a deal that could happen Wednesday, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi.

MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported Tuesday that Scherzer wants to be traded to a winning team and to the West Coast if the Nats move him before Friday's trade deadline.

That is significant since Scherzer has the power to veto any trade that isn't to his liking.

Heyman later said 14 teams have inquired about the right-hander, including some that are "barely" in the playoff race.

Since Scherzer missed Saturday's scheduled start with triceps discomfort, Heyman noted the Nationals may not be able to wait until the day of the deadline to trade him as teams likely want to review his medical report.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic added teams in the mix believe Washington wants to act within the next 48 hours:

Heyman reported the injury is "not seen as serious," however, meaning it may not have any impact on whether the Nats move him.

Scherzer, 37, is in the final year of his contract and can become a free agent at the conclusion of the 2021 season.

He is enjoying another strong year with a 7-4 record, 2.83 ERA, career-low 0.88 WHIP and 142 strikeouts over 105 innings pitched.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner was the All-Star starter for the National League in this month's All-Star Game, and he has been named an All-Star in each of the past eight seasons the game has been held.

During his 14-year MLB career with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers and Nationals, Scherzer is 182-97 with a 3.19 ERA. He has been especially dominant in seven years with the Nats, going 91-47 with a 2.80 ERA and averaging 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings.

Scherzer will always have a significant place in Nationals history as he helped them win their first World Series two seasons ago.

The Nats have struggled since then, however, missing the playoffs last season.

This season, Washington is fourth in the NL East at 45-54, and it trails the New York Mets by 8.5 games for first place.

With the Nationals' playoff hopes fading, it may be time to part with one of the greatest players in franchise history rather than risk losing him for nothing in free agency.

Scherzer is a potential game-changing ace for any team that acquires him. If the Nationals trade him to a contender, he could be the biggest deciding factor in who wins the World Series this season.

The Tampa Bay Rays have reportedly held "preliminary discussions" about both Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer and Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant ahead of Friday's 2021 MLB trade deadline.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Tuesday the Rays are "expected to be active" to upgrade their roster before the deadline, even if they don't land one of those marquee names.

Tampa Bay is second in the AL East with a 60-40 record and 1.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox (62-39) in the division race. It tops the wild-card standings with a 5.5-game edge over the Seattle Mariners (55-46), who are currently the first team outside the playoff picture in the AL. Oakland is in the second wild-card slot at 56-45.

So the Rays are in a strong enough position to believe another deep playoff run is possible. They reached the World Series last year before falling short against the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games.

Scherzer struggled a bit by his high standards during the coronavirus-shortened 2020 campaign, posting a 3.74 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 12 starts, but he's been right back to his dominant self this year. He's compiled a 2.83 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with 142 strikeouts in 105 innings.

Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post reported Monday the 37-year-old right-hander is "open" to a potential trade and wouldn't use his 10-and-5 rights to block a deal.

Scherzer would immediately take over as the ace for the Rays, who are without Tyler Glasnow because of an elbow injury.

Meanwhile, Bryant's story is much the same as the Nationals starter. He struggled last year to the tune of a career-low .644 OPS, but he's bounced right back to form with an .856 OPS and 17 home runs through 91 games for the Cubs in 2021.

The 29-year-old has posted those numbers while shifting around between first base, third base and all three outfield spots to give Chicago valuable lineup versatility.

The Rays have long been known for trying to find unique market deficiencies, and a player like Bryant, who can provide MVP-level offense while playing all over the diamond, could provide a major boost for a team whose bottom half of the batting order has struggled much of the season.

It's unclear whether Tampa Bay has the payroll flexibility to add the remaining salaries of both Scherzer ($34.6 million) and Bryant ($19.5 million), but both players are slated to become free agents at year's end, so it would be a short-term financial commitment to chase a title.

Even if the Rays can only land one marquee name before the deadline, it could be enough to shift the AL East in their favor if the Red Sox don't make any blockbuster moves.

The Washington Nationals have reportedly garnered "a lot of interest" in All-Star shortstop Trea Turner, though it appears the team would need to receive a massive haul in return to move him.

Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reported the news and context Monday:

Turner, 28, entered Monday batting .319 (.888 OPS) with 18 home runs, 49 RBI and 21 stolen bases in 24 attempts. He led the National League with 199 total bases.

The seven-year veteran, who has spent his career with Washington, is under team control through 2022.

The Nats have floundered despite Turner's excellent season and are in fourth place in the National League East.

In turn, they could be sellers as Friday's MLB trade deadline approaches. A division title isn't out of the question, with the New York Mets eight games ahead, but the Nationals are going backward, having lost five straight and 11 of their last 14.

Turner is a fantastic trade asset if the Nationals decide to break down the team and rebuild, and they could be compelled to move him down the road with his free agency coming.

However, Turner is also a player to build around. One can make a case that he's the second-best and second-most valuable shortstop in the game behind the San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr.

His 4.0 WAR ranks ninth in the National League and second among shortstops in the Senior Circuit (Tatis, 5.0), per Baseball Reference.

At any rate, core pieces of the 2019 World Series championship team may be departing. Of note, staff ace and All-Star Game starter Max Scherzer has been the subject of trade talk, to the point where he's "open to moving" to another team, per Jesse Dougherty of the Post.

The Nationals, who were swept by the last-place Baltimore Orioles over the weekend, opened a four-game road series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday. They allowed three runs in the bottom of the ninth to lose 6-5 and drop to 45-54.

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer is open to being traded before the July 30 MLB trade deadline, per Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post, though he may still exercise his 10-5 rights to veto any potential trade offers to influence his destination.

Players receive 10-5 rights when they have 10 years of MLB service time, with the last five of them coming with their current team. Those rights allow veteran players the option to veto any trade. So for Scherzer to be dealt, he would have to waive his 10-5 rights.

In essence, Scherzer is reportedly open to being traded, but he'll have the final say on where he ends up.

Jon Heyman of the MLB Network reported over the weekend that the Nationals were exploring the trade market for Scherzer:

The Nationals fielding offers makes sense. Scherzer is 37 and will be a free agent after the 2021 season. Washington, meanwhile, is just 45-53 on the season, 7.5 games behind the New York Mets in the NL East—they also trail the Philadelphia Phillies (49-49) and Atlanta Braves (49-50) in the division—and 11 games back of the San Diego Padres for the final NL Wild Card spot. 

Barring a miracle, the Nats aren't making the postseason. So getting assets for a star pitcher in a contract year makes plenty of sense. 

Scherzer, for his part, doesn't seem to mind the trade chatter. 

"It's just part of the game, part of the business of the game," he told reporters Saturday. "That's just the reality. For me I come to the park wanting to win, wanting to win here. You just come in, just put the blinders up just have fun with it and just come out here and just play baseball."

He's having yet another dominant season, going 7-4 with a 2.83 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 142 strikeouts in 105 innings (18 starts). He would instantly bolster any rotation in baseball, and contending teams will come calling. 

But Scherzer will ultimately decide if he stays or leaves.