Nats' injury situation emphasized as trade deadline nears

BALTIMORE - When the Nationals return to play after the All-Star break on Friday, only two weeks will remain before the July 31 trade deadline for making non-waiver trades. General manager Mike Rizzo has shown his willingness to participate frequently in the wheeling and dealing in the past.

Last year, Rizzo acquired infielder Asdrubal Cabrera from the Indians for infielder Zach Walters at the deadline. Cabrera contributed more than his .229 batting average suggests, and his ability to play second base while allowing Anthony Rendon to focus on third was key down the stretch.

Rizzo used the deadline in 2010 to acquire key pieces to the Nationals eventual two-time National League East champion roster. He sent right-handed reliever Matt Capps to Minnesota for catcher Wilson Ramos, and then snagged right-hander Tanner Roark from Texas in exchange for shortstop Christian Guzman.

A couple of the game's most imposing closers are likely to draw Rizzo's attention. Talk of the Nationals' interest in Reds left-hander Aroldis Chapman has been rumored for months. And San Diego now appears willing to move right-hander Craig Kimbrel after just acquiring the fireballer on the eve of this year's opening day. The asking price figures to be high for both, which may leave Rizzo on the sidelines, unwilling to part with some of the Nationals' highly coveted young arms.

"We're going to approach the deadline like we do every deadline," Rizzo said Sunday morning. "If we find a need and an opportunity to improve ourselves, we've certainly showed that we've been aggressive in the past. We think we're a good team. We're certainly not a perfect team. We have evaluated ourselves. We're meeting with our professional scouts in the upcoming days, and we'll put a battle plan together and see what we're looking to do and what strengthens us and what makes us a better team moving forward. But always in mind that we like our minor league system and we have internal answers to a lot of our questions, also."

The widespread injuries the Nats have suffered makes it even more challenging for Rizzo to assess his roster needs for a playoff push. The Nationals head to the All-Star break with Denard Span (back spasms), Rendon (left quad strain), Jayson Werth (fractured left wrist) and Ryan Zimmerman (plantar fasciitis) - four of their top five hitters in their projected lineup - on the disabled list with no firm timetable on their returns.

"I think we know what we have when all the players are healthy and playing," Rizzo said. "We can't dwell on them not being here. We're not thinking and talking about the guys that we don't have. We're thinking and talking about the guys that are here and playing for us. Those are the important guys. The Werths and the Rendons and the Zims and the (Stephen Strasburgs), those are guys that have their own jobs to do right now, and that's to rehab and get healthy and help us down the stretch.

"We're talking about the 25 guys that are here right now. We don't talk about injuries, we don't talk about replacement values and that type of thing. We just talk about winning today's game in any way, shape or form that we can, and you see the results of our guys stepping up. Injuries beget opportunities, and guys are taking opportunities and running with them."

Manager Matt Williams has guided the Nationals into the All-Star break holding a two-game lead over the Mets in the NL East despite having to mix and match lineups since opening day. So more than a blockbuster deal, Williams prefers to simply have the opportunity to see the likes of Rendon and Zimmerman healthy and surrounding Bryce Harper in the batting order. Therefore, when asked about his desires as the trade deadline nears, Williams chose a bit of sarcasm with his response.

"I look at it a little bit like this: Sometime after the break, somewhere maybe around the deadline, we may be able to make a deal for some bats, but they all come from within our system," Williams said. "Everybody talks 'they gotta go out and get a bat'. We get a chance to go out and get three or four of them, but they're all guys that are already on our team. That will help. We'll see."