Nationals Trade Murphy to Cubs, Adams to Cardinals
Daniel Murphy, formerly of the Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals traded 2B Daniel Murphy to the Chicago Cubs and 1B Matt Adams to the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday afternoon.
In return for Murphy, the Nationals received from the Cubs minor league infielder Andruw Monasterio and a player to be named later and/or cash considerations. The Cardinals sent cash considerations for Adams.
Addressing the shockwaves these trades would send through the Nationals fanbase, GM Mike Rizzo assured supporters that he still had faith in the remaining roster. He stated, “I still think today we have the talent base on this team to play competitive games at the end of this season.” Rizzo added that the trades give the team financial flexibility for the 2019 season.
Mark Lerner, managing principal owner of the Nationals, posted a letter to fans Tuesday. He admitted that the team had taken a risk by not moving players at the trade deadline. “The decision then was driven by heart and our desire to give this team every opportunity to turn the season around,” Lerner wrote. He then added, “When something isn’t working, you evaluate the situation and take the necessary steps to improve it. You don’t just stand by, cross your fingers, and hope for the best. Unfortunately, in this case, that means making very tough decisions about our roster.”
Three-time all-star Daniel Murphy has been hitting .340 since the break.
Matt Adams has 18 HR, 48 RBIs in 94 games this season.
Murphy called the trade a “surprise” and “bittersweet.” It is not entirely clear what position he will play with the Cubs but he will likely fill in for their injured 3B Kris Bryant.
Although Mark Lerner assured fans that the Nationals were not entering the dreaded “rebuilding phase” in his letter, it is hard for any Nat fan to feel entirely good about these moves. At least not today.
