ESPN’s Jim Bowden recently wrote an article discussing teams with the biggest holes to fill going into Spring Training. One of the team’s were the Washington Nationals, their hole being their lack of closer.
After missing out on Melancon, Jansen and Chapman the Nats are in need of a ninth inning pitcher. They have shown interest in Holland, but could be in the market for Robertson or any other available closer.
Washington’s interest in Robertson isn’t the interesting part of the story. What’s interesting is what Bowden says Robertson would cost. He writes:
The problem in making a trade is that the Nationals already overpaid for Adam Eaton in terms of prospects. They should have expanded that deal to get Robertson, because now it’s almost impossible for them to land Robertson without including top prospect outfielder Victor Robles — which they are not going to do.
According to Bowden, for the Nationals to land Robertson they would need to include top prospect Victor Robles.
Robles is currently the Nationals best prospect and the 10th best prospect in baseball according to MLB.com. In his 218 minor league games, Robles has hit .306 with 16 homeruns, 94 RBIs and 83 stolen bases.
Robles is one of the best young outfielders in the minor leagues. He is just 20 years old, and is expected to be a perennial All Star once he reaches the MLB.
The White Sox are not going to get Robles from the Nats. But it shows that Rick Hahn is looking for atleast one top prospect in return for Robertson.
The Nats are a hard example due to their farm system being so barren following the Eaton trade. However they do have talent in Pedro Severino, Erick Fedde and Carter Kieboom. It’s interest to see that the White Sox would insist on Robles.
That asking price could be the reason Robertson hasn’t been traded yet. While he would be a great asset on a playoff bound team, that same team may be reluctant to trade their top young stars.
The White Sox have already added four top 100 prospects, headlined by Yoan Moncada and Lucas Giolito. If they’re able to get another one from Robertson, coupled with whatever the team receives for Jose Quintana; Chicago would undoubtedly have the best farm system in the league.
Bowden’s report confirms that the White Sox are looking for atleast one top prospect in return for Robertson. While they won’t get a player of Robles potential, it seems as if the club could land a player(s) inside the top 100.
David Robertson is still expected to be traded between now and the 2017 Trade Deadline. If Rick Hahn gets his way, atleast one very talented prospect could be headed to the South Side.
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