MLB Trade Rumors: Nationals, Giants Are Teams To Watch With 2018 Deadline Approaching

Andrew McCutchen Gaints — Andrew McCutchen #22 of the San Francisco Giants falls to the ground in pain after fouling a pitch off his foot against the Milwaukee Brewers in the bottom of the first inning at AT&T Park on July 29, 2018 in San Francisco, California. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Time is running out for teams to decide whether they are buyers or sellers before the 2018 MLB trade deadline. For playoff hopefuls like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, it’s an easy decision to try and upgrade their rosters before 4 p.m. EDT Tuesday afternoon. The Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals have already begun trading their best players because they are well out of the postseason race.

The decision for borderline contenders is a much more difficult one. The Washington Nationals (52-53) and San Francisco Giants (53-54) entered the season with aspirations of competing for a title, but their chances of reaching the playoffs are getting slimmer by the day.

Neither team is likely to make the postseason. Washington is in third place and six games behind the NL East-leading Phillies. San Francisco is in fourth place and 6.5 games behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. Both teams are six games out of the second wild-card berth.

The Nationals and Giants could still conceivably turn things around with a winning streak. They’ve got established veterans that had them among the favorites to reach the playoffs just a few months ago. Washington traded for bullpen help earlier in the season, and San Francisco dealt prospects to acquire Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen in the offseason with an eye on making another World Series run.

Over the weekend, Fancred’s Jon Heyman reported that the Nationals were still a potential landing spot for Miami Marlins’ catcher J.T. Realmuto.

"I don't expect [Bryce Harper]'s going anywhere ... but the Nationals are right on the precipice here."@Ken_Rosenthal breaks down Washington's trade deadline plans. pic.twitter.com/w8b1TrFhAe
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 28, 2018

As one #SFGiants person said, "We just need the players we have to start playing better.'' But it's getting late in the game. They could selectively sell, but there's no buzz that they're engaged on adding anything of significance. Team is in a tough spot right now.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 29, 2018

Washington might be closer toward admitting that 2018 isn’t their year. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal predicted Saturday that the team could become a seller if they were unsuccessful against the Marlins to close out the weekend. Miami did indeed defeat Washington in two straight games.

That likely doesn’t mean trading Bryce Harper, who could command a record-setting contract in free agency this upcoming winter. Relievers like Kelvin Herrera and Ryan Madson could become expendable. The same goes for Matt Adams and Mark Reynolds, who are free-agents-to-be and could provide some power to contending teams.

San Francisco might be able to get something in return for McCutchen, who could be headed elsewhere in 2019 since he’s in the last year of his contract. Madison Bumgarner would give the Giants’ a bigger return than anyone, but don’t expect San Francisco to deal their ace.

Maybe the Nationals and Giants will stand pat at the deadline and regroup in the offseason. Washington has won the NL East in four of the last six years, and San Francisco hasn’t missed the playoffs in two straight seasons since 2009.

Major league baseball