Nationals weigh trading Luis Garcia Jr. before deadline

He's posted a 1.087 OPS with 15 homers since June

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jul 181 min read

What happened: The Nationals have discussed Luis Garcia Jr. in trade conversations ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline, though no advanced talks have taken shape. Garcia, 26, is hitting .284 with an .871 OPS and a Cj Abrams and Foster Griffin have drawn more trade buzz than Garcia to this point.

Why it matters: Garcia is the longest-tenured National, with the organization since 2020, and moving him would cost Washington a clubhouse leader. He carries one additional year of team control beyond this season, making him more than a rental for any acquiring club. His rare power-and-contact profile could draw interest from teams including the Red Sox, Guardians and Marlins.

By the numbers: Since the start of June, Garcia has posted a 1.087 OPS with 15 of his 20 home runs. Abimelec Ortiz, who recently hit three doubles in a Triple-A game before his latest big-league look, projects as an internal replacement option. Reliever Eduardo Rivera, who has already made his MLB debut, has been floated as a possible return piece in trade scenarios involving Garcia.

What to watch: Watch whether Washington's conversations with the Red Sox or other suitors move past exploratory talks before the Aug. 3 deadline.

Sources

Yahoo MLB 2026-07-18T20:14:50.503029+00:00

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MLBTradeWashington NationalsBoston Red SoxCleveland GuardiansLuis Garcia Jr.Cj Abrams

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