With the 40-man roster deadlines due by the end of the day, the Nationals could look to move a couple of players, according to Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post.
The team currently has 36 players on the 40-man, but will need to consider adding talented minor leaguers to that list. That could push pitcher John Lannan and catcher Jesus Flores out of the team’s plans. Kilgore suggests the club could look to deal both players before potentially releasing them.
Even if they survive 40-man roster cuts, Lannan and Flores might not receive contracts during arbitration. Both players are eligible for arbitration this winter, but the team doesn’t have to tender them an offer.
It should come as no surprise the Nationals are considering parting with both players. The team paid Lannan $5 million to pitch in Triple-A Syracuse last year. Since they no longer need insurance for Stephen Strasburg, they could save some money by letting Lannan go. Outside of third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, Lannan is the longest tenured player on the team. The 28-year-old Lannan has a 4.01 ERA and a 4.57 FIP in 783 2/3 career innings.
The midseason acquisition of catcher Kurt Suzuki is likely the major factor in Flores’ potential departure. With Wilson Ramos expected to be close to fully recovered by next season, the team is unlikely to carry three catchers on the roster. The 28-year-old Flores has a .241/.289/.375 slash line in 1,014 plate appearances.
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