Deadline day sees Nats facing decisions about relievers

PHOENIX – They already traded their top setup man 2 1/2 weeks ago. They already traded their top one-year rental three days ago. And they already traded their top available position player under control beyond this year Monday afternoon.

So as trade deadline day finally arrives, the Nationals really are left with only two final pieces who could be moved, both right-handed relievers: Kyle Finnegan and Dylan Floro.

Instead of a last-minute flurry of activity, this has been a prolonged trade deadline period across the majors, with more deals getting done in the days leading up to the deadline than at any point in recent memory.

And the Nats were very much a part of that overriding trend. They traded Hunter Harvey way back on July 13, a reflection of the particular time-sensitive nature of that deal because they acquired a pick from the Royals in the following day’s draft. Then they traded Jesse Winker late during Saturday night’s game, the veteran outfielder getting pulled in the sixth inning for a pinch-hitter and finding out two innings later he was being sent to the Mets.

And then on Monday afternoon, as they were preparing to open a three-game series with the Diamondbacks, the Nationals traded Lane Thomas to the Guardians, leaving manager Davey Martinez with a shell of a lineup.

Not that the makeshift lineup was the reason the Nats lost to Arizona. That group jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first and an 8-2 lead in the sixth. The reason they lost this game was the inability of their All-Star closer to protect a four-run lead in the ninth.

The timing couldn’t have been worse for Finnegan, who for the second straight outing was given the ball with his team up four runs and for the second straight outing was victimized by the home run. Friday night in St. Louis, he was asked to preserve a 10-6 lead in the 10th and proceeded to give up a two-run homer to Paul Goldschmidt before ultimately hanging on to secure the win. Monday night in Arizona, he was asked to preserve an 8-4 lead in the ninth and proceeded to retire only one of six batters faced, giving up a three-run homer to Ketel Marte and then the walk-off, two-run homer to Corbin Carroll.

All of a sudden, an All-Star with 28 saves and a 2.32 ERA a week ago has a 3.48 ERA and the bitter taste of a total meltdown still fresh in his mouth.

Would that one performance scare off prospective trade partners? You wouldn’t think so. You’d think anyone who has had real interest in Finnegan would have scouted him extensively and come to realize he’s prone to getting hit hard every once in a while, especially via the home run. If you already liked Finnegan, Monday’s game probably didn’t change that. If you already had concerns about him, Monday’s game probably exacerbated them.

In the end, it’s up to Mike Rizzo to decide if any offers meet his lofty asking price for Finnegan, who of course remains under club control through 2025. If he doesn’t get an offer he likes, he’s under no obligation to say yes.

Finnegan presents a true dilemma for the GM, who has visions of competing to win next season and would be left at square one trying to find a new closer if he deals away his current one right now.

There should be less concern surrounding Floro, who after four excellent months on a modest $2.25 million contract should be an obvious trade chip. The 33-year-old has been as reliable as they get, finally giving up his first homer of the season Sunday, and he has postseason experience with the Dodgers. Rizzo needs only say yes to the best offer he gets for Floro before 6 p.m. Eastern.

Which brings us back to Finnegan, clearly the most interesting player the Nationals have on the trade block. Rizzo has until 6 p.m. to listen to offers. Then he has to decide if any were worth it and make a decision that has been looming for a long time, with valid arguments on both sides of the equation.