⚾️⚾️ The Morning Briefing: Jeimer Candelario traded to the Chicago Cubs

Good Morning Washington Nationals Fan,

Here are the latest headlines and analyses around the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for today, August 1st. My name is Haden Raymer and this is your morning briefing. Last night Jeimer Candelario got traded. Let’s talk about it.

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Leading today’s Morning Briefing: Candelario heads (back) to the Cubs

Jeimer Candelario was traded last night to the Cubs for two minor league prospects, LHP DJ Herz and SS Kevin Made. Herz was drafted out of high school in the 8th round of the 2019 draft. Made was signed out of the Dominican Republic for $1.5M.

🚨 #BREAKING NEWS:

The Cubs have acquired 3B Jeimer Candelario from the Nationals, per @Ken_Rosenthal.

Additionally, according to @Joelsherman1, the #Nationals are acquiring SS Kevin Made and LHP DJ Herz. No official word from the team yet. #Natitudetwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

— TheNatsReport ⚾ 🇺🇸 (@TheNatsReport)
Jul 31, 2023

The Nationals’ $5M investment in Candelario paid off. Candelario now gets to go play for a contender and get a larger payday in the offseason while the Nationals get two prospects in return.

DJ Herz is the prize of the package for the Nats. He throws one of the best change-ups in the minors while sitting 91-92 with his fastball. Control is the concern, which may push him to the bullpen. If his command and velocity improve with a move to the pen, he’d be a solid late-inning reliever. If both improve without that, you’ve got a really great starter.

Made has taken a step in the wrong direction this season. He is already considered a glove-first prospect, but his bat has slid the wrong way so far this season. With power, he may become something, but he had already fallen out of Baseball America’s midseason top 30 prospects for the Cubs organization. We’ll have a better idea as more evaluators update their lists on how truly far he has fallen in the scheme of things. Worst case he’s plus fielding organizational filler as he was one of the top defenders in a Cubs’ organization that includes Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Jake Alu will take Candelario’s place on the 26-man roster.

Nationals still have some in the tank after a 5-3 victory

After the news broke that the Nationals traded one of their best players broke, the Nationals had to suit up and take on the Milwaukee Brewers, whose 57-50 record puts them second in the NL Central. Joey Meneses was a triple short of the cycle, Lane Thomas went 2-4, and Corey Dickerson doubled.

Jake Irvin threw 5.1 innings of two-run ball while striking out two batters. Mason Thompson threw a five-pitch eighth inning where he also allowed a hit, and Kyle Finnegan earned the save, striking out Christian Yelich to record the final out.

The Nats Report Player of the Game is Joey Meneses. The Nationals take on the Brewers again at 7:05 p.m. on MASN2.

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Down on the Farm

The Rochester Red Wings begin a series away against the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

The Harrisburg Senators begin a series on the road against the Erie SeaWolves.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks begin a series at home against the Hudson Valley Renegades.

The FredNats begin a series at home against the Salem Red Sox. Yohandy Morales should be making his Low-A debut tonight.

Source: Third baseman Yohandy Morales is expected to join the club’s low-A affiliate in Fredericksburg on Monday. Morales was the Nationals’ second-round pick in the recent draft.

— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse)
Jul 30, 2023