Nationals Trade Franklin for Pitching Prospect | Washington Nationals News

**Corey** (0:00)
On August 3rd, the Washington Nationals made a few moves before the trade deadline, sending out players like Curtis Mead, Luis Garcia Jr. and Foster Griffin. These were pretty expected moves, but they also pulled off a quieter deal, trading outfield prospect Christian Franklin to the Baltimore Orioles. This wasn't as flashy as some other league wide trades, but it brought in some new pitching talent for Washington. The Nationals acquired Franklin last year as part of the package for Michael Soroka. Now, they flipped him for minor league pitcher Joe Glassey. The team had been signaling they were open to trading from their farm system depth and this move fits that strategy, especially with a crowded outfield situation on the big league roster and coming up through the minors.
Glassey, who was 25 years old, has been impressive out of the bullpen in the minors. He's got a career earned run average of 2.20, with a lot more strikeouts than walks. He was pitching at the AA level for the Orioles and was college player at the University of Illinois before turning pro. While Glassey wasn't considered a top prospect in Baltimore system, he's seen as a high upside arm. The Nationals already have a stacked outfield with players like James Wood, Dalen Lyle, and Dylan Crews on the major league roster, plus several.
Others in their pipeline. They felt comfortable enough to move Franklin, who has shown promise with his hitting ability. Ultimately, the Nationals saw an opportunity to address their pitching needs by moving a player who wouldn't get consistent playing time in, Washington.
It's a calculated risk, but clearing out that outfield logjam to bring in another arm makes sense for their long-term plans. That's your update from Washington Nationals News Today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with the story.