Nationals Ship Griffin and García, Making the Sell Official

Washington traded Foster Griffin to Cleveland and Luis García Jr. to New York over the weekend, and the math is now straightforward: the Nationals are sellers, the window is closed for 2026, and the front office is collecting arms for the next cycle. Griffin, the team's lone All-Star starter, was 13-4 with a 3.10 ERA before heading to the Guardians. The return includes four players, among them Josh Hartle and Will Dion. García, who joined the organization a decade ago, said he was "both sad and happy" about the move to New York — and then hit a go-ahead homer in his first game as a Yankee, which is the kind of thing that stings a little.

The timing is rough. Washington has lost six straight and gone 3-7 over its last ten, falling to 51-59 and sitting 7.5 games back of the last wild card with 52 to play. James Wood, one of the team's three All-Stars, left Monday's loss to Philadelphia with an oblique injury and is headed for testing. The rotation behind Cade Cavalli is now thin, and the bullpen has been carrying a heavy load all season with multiple arms already on the 60-day IL.

What's left is still worth watching. CJ Abrams is having a genuine breakout year. Cavalli has been solid. Daylen Lile has quietly put together a useful season. But the trades signal what the standings already suggested — this team isn't chasing anything in August.