In this market there's no way Volquez doesn't do better on the open market. With contracts out there like Jeff Samardzija at 5/$90M, JA Happ at 3/$36M, Kennedy at 5/$75M ..... he'll do better than 1/$10M. At age 33, I'd guess he'd be looking at a 3/$40M type deal.

Trade Volquez, trade Hoch, trade Morales. Get whatever you can for them. None of them will be back next year, otherwise.

Something is better than nothing . . . .

I understand it's unlikely, but is there any chance if the Nats lose out on Chapman they cave and give us Giolito for Wade? Wade's got another year and a half of control on a favorable contract. Would we do it for just one guy that may or may not help us next season?

I doubt it, but that would be impossible for us to turn down.

The nationals do have a ton of prospect ammo.

So. Are we sellers yet?

I think they need to figure out what they are pretty quick.

So any chance next year we have an IF like this?
3rd Moose
SS Mondesi
2nd Cuthbert
1st Hos

Should be. The last series we won was end of June against the Cards. We pushed in the 4 gamer against the M's. And Cain probably doesn't get back until right at the trade deadline, so we probably can't wait to see if he gives us a spark.

Cuthbert is a very good 3rd baseman, but I just don't think he's a viable option at 2nd. He's not particularly quick moving side to side, and that turn at 2nd isn't a natural play. I'm hoping Whit can adjust and become at least decent consistently with the bat, as he's a solid 2nd baseman. I'd think Mondesi is your 2nd baseman next season and then moves to short the next year. We could definitely see Raul playing 2nd the last month of this season.

Or Esky gets traded and Modessi comes up now at SS. That wouldn't break my heart either.

I was hoping he could be a lot more Jeff Kent than Mark Tehan. That 800OPS would play nice there if he was at least serviceable defensively.

Can't imagine there's a long line for Esky right now

Yeah agree, but maybe there is a team in contention that needs a better glove at short?

Esky hasn't done us many favors this year...either at the plate or bolstering his trade value, lol.