3 trade targets from the Washington Nationals for the Colorado Rockies

The Washington Nationals and Colorado Rockies are two teams that are just about as opposite as they come in some ways but very similar in others.

The Nationals won the World Series in 2019 but have fallen off the map since then. However, they have some big contracts and are usually willing to take on more salary from other teams. While they have let some of their top talents go (Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon, etc.), they have also signed some big free agents in recent years as well, including Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg (resigning), Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman (another resigning), and Patrick Corbin.

The Rockies haven’t made it to the World Series since 2007 and they have never won their division. In recent years, they have made some free agent signings but none were huge monetarily and all of the MLB free agent signings didn’t pan out. Since they got burned with those in the 2017-2018 offseason, the Rockies have been gun-shy about pulling the trigger on any move for outside players: trades or free agency.

Despite the differing styles that way, the two teams are, on paper, going to be two of the worst teams in the sport in 2022. Outside of Juan Soto, the Nationals have an awful offense, just like the Rockies. Their starting pitching is good but they have little depth in it now that Scherzer is gone. Also, their rotation is never healthy. They also have a bullpen that is compiled, largely, with young, fringe relievers. That’s the textbook definition of a bad team and both teams have all that.

The Washington Nationals and Colorado Rockies are not a great fit for a trade

As we have gone through this trade target series, we have been able to get as many as 10 trade targets from a team for the Colorado Rockies but with the Washington Nationals, there are much fewer potential fits.

However, there are three Washington Nationals players that the Colorado Rockies should examine further for a trade.

Washington Nationals first baseman Josh Bell would be a good fit for the Colorado Rockies

Josh Bell is a switch-hitting first baseman and he was very good for the Washington Nationals in his first season with the team in 2021 and he could be good for the Colorado Rockies.

The Nationals acquired him in December of 2020 from the Pittsburgh Pirates for two prospects but, as MLB Trade Rumors discussed in this recent article, the Nationals could be looking to move him when the lockout ends.

In 2021, he hit .261/.347/.476 with 27 homers, 88 RBI, and an OPS+ of 124. He had a bad season in 2020 (82 OPS+) but his 2021 was closer to his 2019 season, which has been his best in the majors.

In 2019, he was an All-Star for the Pirates. He hit 37 homers and had 116 RBI with a slash line of .277/.367/.569 and an OPS+ of 142.

Bell is a first baseman, which is something that the Rockies don’t necessarily need since they extended C.J. Cron for two more years but if the DH comes to the NL in 2022, Bell could easily be a DH.

He also has some experience in both left and right field in the majors and extensive playing time in right field in the minors.

Another problem for the Rockies is that he is a free agent after the 2022 season so they would not have much control with him. However, that would mean that it won’t take much to get him in a trade.

The Rockies need more offense and Bell would bring that, which is the most important thing.

Washington Nationals reliever Will Harris could be a fit for the Colorado Rockies

We chose Will Harris as the one Washington Nationals player that the Colorado Rockies should target when we chose one trade target from each team back in October. We chose him for a few reasons.

Colorado Rockies fans already know that the Rockies are in need of desperate bullpen help and, frankly, being a veteran reliever, Harris already becomes a target. But the Rockies are very familiar with him

As we said back in October, Harris, 37, was drafted by the Rockies in the 9th round all the way back in 2006 and he worked all the way up to the majors with them in 2012. However, he didn’t last long in the majors as he pitched poorly in that rookie year. As a result, the Rockies let him go to Oakland on waivers.

Part of the reason why he pitched poorly while with the Rockies was a high hit rate (13.8 H/9) and a low groundball rate (31.7 percent).

He was injured in most of 2021 (eight appearances) but in 2019 and 2020, he combined for an ERA of 1.85 in 88 appearances. In 2019 (his best season), he made 89 appearances for the American League Champion Houston Astros and he had a 1.50 ERA with a 0.933 WHIP, an average of 2.1 walks and 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings, and he had a groundball rate of nearly 54 percent.

He is entering the final year of a three-year contract.