What happened: With the MLB trade deadline approaching, attention has turned to the Washington Nationals and the direction the club will take. Washington carries a 43-42 record, leaving the front office to weigh whether to add, hold, or sell as the calendar turns toward late summer.

Why it matters: Sitting just one game over .500 puts Washington squarely on the buyer-or-seller fence, the hardest position to read at a deadline. A record this close to even can pull a roster in either direction, and the choices made now will shape both the rest of this season and the club's path forward.

What to watch: Watch whether Washington signals buyer or seller intent as the deadline nears, and how the next stretch of games tilts a record balanced right at the break-even line.