1B/OF Adam Dunn and closer Matt Capps are both players the Nationals could re-sign after the season. So with the Nationals not likely to contend this season why not flip them for some prospects? I would trade Dunn to the Tampa Bay Rays for lefty starter Alex Torres, righty starting pitcher Aneury Rodriguez, outfielder Matt Joyce and catcher Dioner Navarro. Then I would flip Capps to the Phillies for lefty reliever Antonio Bastardo and 1B/OF Jonathan Singleton. Torres and Bastardo are both really solid lefty throwing prospects while Rodriguez is also highly thought of. Singleton is a nice prospect with a large upside and Joyce and Navarro can help the Nationals now. The best thing about making deals like these are that the Nationals can try to re-sign Dunn and Capps after the season is over.

The Nationals are 36-47 on the season which has them in last place in the N.L. East, 12 games behind the Braves. Despite being 12 games out of first place I don’t see the Nationals being sellers or buyers at the trade deadline. I believe they might trade some spare parts while holding onto their better players to finish out this season. Christian Guzman, Adam Kennedy, Miguel Batista and Doug Slaten are the kind of players I see the Nationals trying to move. I don’t think they will get any really good prospects back for those guys but you never know. I’m thinking that the Nationals would be better down the road by moving those four guys and using younger players in their spots to gain experience.

With the Nationals somewhat in contention right now I expect them to be very aggressive in the trade market sooner rather than later. The Nationals have a need for another starting pitcher, a starting RF and maybe a backup type catcher. Three teams come to mind that could fill all of those needs for the Nationals and they would be the Oakland A’s, Houston Astros and Cleveland Indians. The Indians would probably be the cheapest of these three teams to deal with but also maybe the worst fit as they could send the Nationals Jake Westbrook, Russell Branyan and Mike Redmond with the likely return being something like Roger Berandina or Justin Maxwell (whichever one the Indians like more), Garrett Mock and Matt Chico. Of course if you’re buying into this deal it would put Adam Dunn into RF with Branyan playing 1B. That doesn’t seem like much to give up but the Indians are likely to blow up the team so they would take it. The A’s are the next team I have pegged and they could send Ben Sheets, Ryan Sweeney and Landon Powell to the Nationals for Bernadina, Maxwell, Luis Atilano and Mock. The Astros have the best package for the Nationals including Lance Berkman, Roy Oswalt or Wandy Rodriguez or Brett Myers along with catcher J.R. Towles. If you go for the top package of Berkman, Oswalt and Towles the Astros would likely want back Drew Storen, Ian Desmond, Roger Bernadina, Craig Stammen and Luis Atilano. That seems like a lot to give up but Oswalt and Berkman would be HUGE improvements for the Nationals. The second best bunch were would be to take out Roy Oswalt and insert Wandy Rodriguez. That would likely still cost the Nationals Storen, Stammen Atilano and Bernadina. Going for Brett Myers as the pitcher involved would likely cost the package down quite a bit with Stammen, Atilano, Maxwell and Chico being involved. Basically I think the Astros are going to extract top dollar for their players as they don’t need to dump money. The Orioles are the team right around the block but I’m not so sure that they would deal with the Nationals. Kevin Millwood or Jeremy Guthrie along with Luke Scott would really make the Nationals imposing. I think the O’s would be tempted to pull the trigger if the Nationals offered Roger Bernadina, Garrett Mock, Matt Chico and Jesse English. Finally the Royals would have to be considered as a trade partner with Gil Meche and Jose Guillen being prime targets. They would probably jump at a offer of Luis Atilano, Garrett Mock and either Justin Maxwell or Roger Bernadina. The bottom line is that the Nationals look like they will be buyers in the trade market and that is nice.

The Los Angeles Angels need help in the bullpen so the Nationals should offer them either Saul Rivera or Jason Bergmann for 26-year old righty swinging catcher Bobby Wilson. Wilson was the #13 rated prospect in the Angels’ minor league system heading into last season according to Baseball America. But, he is blocked behind Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis with the Angels. With that in mind this kind of a trade makes perfect sense to both teams. Wilson is good enough to battle Jesus Flores for the starting job if he is healthy when spring training begins. Come on Nationals, get this done.

The Nationals really need some young talented pitching and the July 31st trade deadline is a good time to stockpile some. Shortstop Christian Guzman is the best of the trading chips the Nationals have this year. OF Josh Willingham, 1B Nick Johnson and OF Austin Kearns all could net the Nationals a couple of youngsters apiece. Scott Olsen could also help out the Nationals by getting traded before the deadline as he has not pitched too well for them this season. Lefty relievers Joe Beimel and Ron Villone could each net a prospect (maybe 2 for Beimel). Veterans Willie Harris, Ronnie Belliard, Josh Bard or Will Nieves could net some fringe prospects. The Nationals have some decent hitting but they need a lot of pitching as the current staff doesn’t have much talent.