Yankees Rumors: Potential Nationals fire sale could help Yanks

While it’s too early to concede, should the Washington Nationals struggle to play .500 ball, Joel Sherman suggests a fire sale could ensue, possibly concluding in Max Scherzer and/or Anthony Rendon going to the Yankees.

Despite more injuries than anyone could have ever foreseen in the course of 162 games, let alone 42, the Yankees are half a game out of first place (26-16) and have won eight of their last 10.

However, it appears with each bit of good news we get, such as the return of Aaron Hicks — bad news soon follows, such as Miguel Andujar deciding to undergo season-ending surgery on his partially torn labrum.

But this give and take won’t last all season, will it? If 2019 has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected when it comes to this group of Yankees.

And so, passing on signing the likes of uber-expensive free agents Bryce Harper, Manny Machado or Patrick Corbin this past offseason has so far worked out.

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Yet, with All-Stars such as Luis Severino, Dellin Betances, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton out until as long as July, should the Yankees continue to stay within striking distance of first (if not overtake it), will general manager Brian Cashman trade for reinforcements before the deadline?

Well, one team he could potentially look to is the underachieving Washington Nationals.

At 18-25, the Nats sit in fourth place in the competitive NL East. And although they are only six games back of first place Philadelphia — and virtually everyone is in the Wild Card hunt well into the latter part of the summer, Joel Sherman of the New York Post suggests that the Nats could deal two of their top veterans, Max Scherzer and Anthony Rendon.

For if they continue on this path as the trade deadline approaches, they must be more decisive than 2016, recognize that selling does not mean rebuilding, and swallow hard and appreciate their versions of Chapman (who was in his walk year) and Miller (who had 2 ¹/₂ seasons left on his contract) are Anthony Rendon (in his walk year) and — turn your eyes away here Nats fans — Max Scherzer, who has 2 ¹/₂ seasons left.

Trading for one or both of these stars would undoubtedly come at the cost of multiple top minor league prospects and emerging young players.

With Rendon set to command a hefty free-agent payday this coming winter and Miguel Andujar still in the Yankees plans, is acquiring the 2014 Silver Slugger a realistic option?

Beginning this season on the IL, Rendon has been solid as ever in 29 games — slashing .327/.407/.636 with 15 doubles, six home runs, 21 RBIs and a superb 22:10 K:BB ratio in 123 plate appearances.

Rendon’s always been a reliable defender, capable of playing third base, shortstop and second — so perhaps adding him shouldn’t be completely ruled out.

As for Scherzer, the guy is a guaranteed first-ballot Hall of Famer. The three-time Cy Young Winner may turn 35 in July, have 10-and-5 rights and three years remaining on a $210 million deal, but he still leads the NL in strikeouts (79 in 59.1 innings), FIP (2.25) and a minuscule 0.8 HR/9.

Though Sherman suggests it would take four young players for the Nats to move on from their ace, only time will tell where they sit in the standings come late July — and if they’ll cash in while Scherzer still possesses immense value.

Despite his age, having Scherzer at the front of the rotation, with the type of bats a healthy Bombers offense boasts, could be enough to carry the Yanks deep into October, especially once Severino and James Paxton return — not to mention the emergence of current MLB win leader Domingo German.