Good Trade For Nats

The Nationals recently completed an eight player deal with the Cincinnati Reds. The Nats may face some heat for the deal, as they gave up young pitching for hitters, but I strongly defend this trade. First of all, the regulars the Nationals recieved, Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez, are both under 26 years old. They are both players with significant upside who are locked up for several years.

Now, I recognize that a solid pitching staff is neccessary to be successful, but let's not get carried away here. Gary Majewski is a very good setup man, but that's all he is, a good reliever. Players like that are replaceable. Relievers come and go, and even the best only pitch about 70 innings a season.

I also recognize that trading young pitching, mainly Bill Bray, is always a risk. Young pitchers are the most valued asset in baseball. However, there is no guarantee that Bray will develop into an above average big league pitcher. Lopez is a former All-Star, and Kearns has already put together productive seasons at the major league level.

Getting two regulars, players who can help in 162 games, is huge. Sure, losing relievers hurts, but it hurts short term, and the Nationals aren't in the pennant race anyway. By the time they are, by the time Kearns and Lopez reach their prime, the bullpen will be totally restocked. For a team that still has a long way to go, getting two solid everyday players is a big step toward respectability.