WAS / ARI Trade

[Nats GM (Lee)]

WAS trades:

Viandel Pena (MI) - prospect

Matt Cronin (RP) - prospect

Ben Braymer (RP) - prospect

ARI trades:

Eduardo Escobar (CI,MI) - 21: $7.5M, 22: FA

Retains 25% of Escobar contract value ($1.875M), reduces contract cost to $5.625M

WAS logic:

I suspected FA would be wild given that this is a new league, but prices are getting out of hand and I have a number of holes to fill. Michael and I had discussed Escobar previously after almost connecting on a few other trades. I love the fact that he's both CI and MI eligible, and see his BA bouncing back while providing decent power. Gives me a stop gap while I figure out if Kieboom can turn the corner and wait for Luis Garcia to get more seasoning. In exchange for eating some of Escobars contract, we bolstered Michaels return, with him getting two bullpen arms in Cronin and Braymer, and Altuve 2.0 in Pena (who lead GCL in average). Great dealing with the Diamondbacks.

[Deleted]

I approve of this deal. Escobar is a nice player for sure, but doesn't fit into my team profile. I felt the need to strengthen my bullpen and Braymer and Cronin will help in that aspect. Viandel is the big wild card in this. I don't expect him to be an Altuve 2.0, but if he can be a good hitting, obp machine with speed then I'll be very very content.