MLB Rumors: 3 Nationals On The Trade Block

The Washington Nationals have been in a June swoon, dropping nine of their last 11 games, leaving them with the worst record in the National League heading into play on Monday. Yes, they will certainly be one of the sellers on next month's trade market, and will be looking for young starting pitching in return.

So where can rival teams find value on the Nats' roster for a deadline deal? We must start in the outfield:

Lane Thomas

Thomas, 27, has come out of nowhere to put up what will likely be an All-Star season this year (the Nationals have to have somebody representing them). 

After a league-average, middling season last year in DC, Thomas has been their star hitter this season, averaging .287 with a .337 on-base and an .822 OPS. He has 11 homers and 35 ribbies, and could be a nice piece for a team needing to plug a hole in the outfield. 

Corey Dickerson

A former All-Star (2017) and Gold Glove winner (2018), Dickerson is a career .281 hitter, and nary a trade deadline goes by that he isn't on the block, with any of the eight teams he's been on. He just came back a month ago from a left calf strain and is hitting .273 with a .744 OPS in 23 games. The left-handed hitter works best in a platoon, as he has a career .834 OPS against righties, but only .694 against southpaws. 

Jeimer Candelario

For teams hurting at third base, they could do worse than Candelario, a league-average hitter for his career with an OPS+ of 100. This year, he's stepping it up a bit at the plate, with a .788 OPS and an OPS+ of 119, with eight homers and 30 RBIs. 

DH Joey Meneses could also be a trade chip for the Nats, as could a couple of their relievers, notably Kyle Finnegan and Carl Edwards Jr. 

 Photo: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports