On Monday afternoon, Washington Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo traded Jeimer Candelario and cash to Chicago’s Cubs for left-handed pitcher DJ Herz, 22, and shortstop Kevin Made, 20, making another trade of a veteran on an expiring contract to acquire young prospects who can be part of the next competitive team in the nation’s capital.
It’s the M.O. for the Nats at this point of the season, at least in the last three years, as they’ve tried to go through a reboot and reestablish themselves as a contender.
“When we started this, we had a plan,” manager Davey Martinez said in the hours before the deadline passed on Tuesday without any other big moves by the club.