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Nationals Targeting Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller

By Evan Halpine-Berger

Jun 2, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) pitches in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The Yankees won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 2, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) pitches in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The Yankees won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nationals beat writer Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports that Washington has made adding bullpen help their top priority before the trade deadline, and are very interested in Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller of the New York Yankees.

The Nationals enter Monday with a slim lead in the NL East and will likely face a tight division race against the Mets. They do have 35-year-old Jonathan Papelbon in the closer role, but could certainly use another late inning arm or two to solidify their pen. Ladson says that nothing is close at the moment, but Washington is “hoping Yankees relievers Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman are available before the Deadline.”

The Yankees have made no secret of the fact that their priority in the last year has been acquiring young, controllable starting pitching, and the Nationals have that in spades. 23-year-old starter Joe Ross has a 2.37 ERA and 3.45 FIP in ten starts for the big league club this year. With Lucas Giolito, the number one overall prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, about to push his way into the rotation, the Nationals may be willing to listen on Ross. 2014 first rounder Erick Fedde and 22-year-old flamethrower Reynaldo Lopez, who rank fourth and fifth in the system according to MLB.com, would also be intriguing trade chips.

Related Story: Will the Yankees Commit to Selling?

Combined with the rumors Saturday that the Giants were discussing a run at Miller, it appears that the Yankees may have a bidding war shaping up for their trio of elite relievers. Even if they remain on the fringes of Wild Card contention (they had seven teams ahead of them for the second spot as of Monday morning), selling off at least Chapman and/or Miller seems like the smart play. Also, if including Carlos Beltran or Brett Gardner in the package can net a better return, than the team shouldn’t hesitate considering their young outfield depth.

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