One less middle infield option

The second base option most frequently linked to the Nationals this offseason is heading elsewhere, as Ben Zobrist got shipped from the Rays to the Athletics yesterday in a deal that also sent shortstop Yunel Escobar to Oakland.

How often do you see a team trade away both of its starting middle infielders in one deal? I can't remember such a case, at least off the top of my head.

The Rays saved themselves a good bit of money with this deal, and also got a good bit younger. They were thought to be asking a high price in exchange for Zobrist, and Tampa Bay ended up getting two prospects - Daniel Robertson and Boog Powell (no, not the Orioles great) - as well as catcher John Jaso, who was involved in the three-team trade two years ago that sent Michael Morse from the Nats to the Mariners.

The Nationals had looked into Zobrist, but found what the Rays were asking in exchange to be too substantial. Discussions never reached a serious stage.

I saw some fans asking whether the A's might now be willing to flip Zobrist to the Nats, especially because of the extensive trade history between A's general manager Billy Beane and Nats GM Mike Rizzo. Don't count on it.

Beane has said that he's holding onto Zobrist, and who could blame him, given the versatility that the 33-year-old provides and the value that he adds to a team.

So where do the Nats go from here? Well, at this point, the free agent market doesn't contain many (if any) starting options at second or third base. Here are the remaining free agents at those spots, according to MLBTradeRumors.com:

Second basemen
Gordon Beckham (28)
Mark Ellis (38)
Rafael Furcal (37)
Jonathan Herrera (30)
Brandon Hicks (29)
Kelly Johnson (33)
Nick Punto (37)
Ramon Santiago (35)
Chris Valaika (29)
Rickie Weeks (32)
Josh Wilson (34)

Third basemen
Kelly Johnson (33)
Donnie Murphy (32)
Jayson Nix (32)

Fairly slim pickings.

Danny Espinosa is currently the top in-house option at second base, but the Nats will continue to look around for possible infield upgrades through trade channels.

Acquiring a second baseman is an option, but don't discount Rizzo trading for a third baseman and then asking Anthony Rendon to move back to second. That is still a possibility.