As the Washington Nationals continue to sit near the bottom of the standings, the fate of third baseman Anthony Rendon’s tenure in Washington hangs in the balance.
According to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, Washington’s star third baseman could potentially emerge as a trade chip for the Nationals this July if the team continues to struggle.
Rendon is set to hit free agency this offseason and would be one of the most coveted hitters on the mark. While the Nationals are trying to sign him to a contract extension, a failure to do so could lead to a possible trade.
Washington went through a similar situation in 2018 with outfielder Bryce Harper. Rather than trade him during a lost season and strengthening the farm system, the Nationals kept him through the trade deadline and only received a compensation pick when he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Rendon is one of the best third basemen in baseball and is in the midst of an All-Star caliber season. The 29-year-old has a 1.069 OPS this season with 15 home runs and 48 RBI.
While the potential return of prospects would be limited because he’s a rental, any deal made would likely yield a better package of prospects than a single draft pick if Rendon walks this offseason. Rendon might remain a National for now, but that will likely change if Washington slides further in the standings.