{"id":14283,"date":"2017-07-29T10:57:21","date_gmt":"2017-07-29T14:57:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/?p=14283"},"modified":"2017-07-29T11:01:36","modified_gmt":"2017-07-29T15:01:36","slug":"just-when-we-were-starting-to-talk-about-mckenzie-mills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/?p=14283","title":{"rendered":"Just when we were starting to talk about McKenzie Mills…"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Kendrick<\/a>

Kendrick shores up a very fragile outfield for the Nats. PHoto via si<\/p><\/div>\n

… the Nats go and trade him away. \u00a0We flipped him<\/a> for\u00a0Howie Kendrick<\/strong> last night (throwing in Intl’ bonus money but getting back salary relief, of course, since its the Lerners).<\/p>\n

Now, in arguably Kendrick fills a need. \u00a0The Nats now have SIX outfielders on the D\/L. \u00a0Two of their opening day starters, their primary bench OF, plus three other guys. \u00a0They’re running out\u00a0Adam Lind<\/strong> and\u00a0Wilmer Difo<\/strong> in the outfield with predictable negative UZR results. \u00a0So Kendrick helps there. \u00a0Kendrick can also help in the infield, where our primary backup right now is a long-serving org-guy in\u00a0Adrian Sanchez<\/strong> who, while being a great story, is clearly overmatched at the major league level (2 for 17 as we speak).<\/p>\n

But we give up what was looking like a heck of a find. \u00a0McKenzie Mills<\/strong> stepped it up this year, making the Low-A all-star team and just earning a promotion to high-A in his age 21 season. \u00a0He’s 12-2 with a 3.01 ERA and great K\/9 rates. \u00a0Philly should be ecstatic to have him, and to have gotten him for a spare part.<\/p>\n

I’m sure our prospect guys will hate giving up Mills for a rental like Kendrick. \u00a0Its a win-now, fix-the-now-issues move for sure. \u00a0On the other hand … Mills is a ways away, needs to solve two more levels of the minor league before being in consideration for the majors, and is no sure thing. \u00a0But … yeah sometimes you have to do what you have to do.<\/p>\n

More pertinently; the acquisition of Kendrick means a series of roster moves needs to happen. \u00a0On top of that, we’re still expecting the selection of\u00a0Erick Fedde<\/strong> for tonight’s game. \u00a0So that’s two 25-man roster moves and, more importantly, two 40-man moves. \u00a0I’m guessing:<\/p>\n