NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – After striking out in big efforts for Chris Sale and Mark Melancon, the Nationals loaded up a trade with some of their best prospects to solve their deficiency in center field by obtaining Adam Eaton from the White Sox.
The Nationals surrendered three righty pitchers: Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning, who were ranked first, third and sixth among Washington’s prospects by MLB Pipeline.
The two teams had a lot of groundwork done as far as the prospects whom the White Sox liked because the Nationals finished as the runners-up to the Red Sox in the chase for Sale.
Eaton primarily has played center field in his career. He was stationed mostly in right field last year and now will move back to center to be flanked by Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper. He also likely will hit at the top of the lineup with Trea Turner, who will move from center to his more natural shortstop position.
Eaton has five years at $38.4 million left on his pact, the kind of team-friendly numbers that leave the aggressive Nationals in position to address their other main area of need: closer. The cost in prospects, though, was steep.
Giolito and Lopez both made it up to the majors in 2016. Giolito has had the glean of one of the better prospects in the majors, but that is not a universal opinion among scouts. Nevertheless, he is just 22, replete with talent and further symbolizes that the White Sox are following the path of their Chicago neighbors, the Cubs, who committed to a total rebuild that culminated with a championship this year.
In two days, the White Sox traded their best starter (Sale) and their most well-rounded position player (Eaton). In exchange, they received five well-regarded prospects, including Michael Kopech and Yoan Moncada from the Red Sox. Just those five are going to help change the perception of the White Sox system – all but Dunning are among MLB Pipeline’s top 38 prospects in the majors — from one of the worst to something far better.
And the White Sox have more trades to make, because why stop now? Jose Abreu, Melky Cabrera, Todd Frazier, Jose Quintana and David Robertson also could be had.