Nats get two RHP prospects from Tigers for closer Finnegan

Right-handed closer Kyle Finnegan had been mentioned in Nationals trade buzz over the years. But the back-end bullpen mainstay had remained on the team since 2020. At this Trade Deadline, that buzz came to fruition.

The Nats have traded Finnegan to the Tigers in exchange for right-handed pitching prospects Josh Randall and R.J. Sales.

TRADE DETAILS
Nationals get: RHP Josh Randall (Tigers' No. 15 prospect), RHP R.J. Sales
Tigers get: RHP Kyle Finnegan

A trade involving Finnegan seemed likely this season, even though the Nationals will now have to identify a new closer. Finnegan, 33, is a six-year veteran on an expiring $6 million contract. He was non-tendered by the Nationals in his final year of arbitration eligibility last November, and the Nats signed him to a one-year deal in late February.

“It's always tough when you trade away guys that contributed to this Major League team, were really good people, made an impact – both on the field and in the clubhouse – and connected with the fans, too,” said interim general manager Mike DeBartolo. “Certainly, Kyle stands at the front of that group with the success he's had over the last several years, an All-Star last year, near the Nationals’ closing record, just a big part of the Nationals the last few years and a real class act.

“When I spoke to Kyle, I just emphasized that as much as I could, that we're really appreciative of how he conducted himself on the field and in the clubhouse and was a leader for the Nationals. So we'll certainly miss him and be rooting for him from afar.”

Randall enters the Nationals top 30 prospects rankings at No. 21. Listed at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, Randall’s scouting grades are:
• Fastball: 50
• Slider: 55
• Changeup: 45
• Control: 50
• Overall: 40

Randall, 22, was a third-round Draft pick by the Tigers out of the University of San Diego last year. He is 5-5 with a 3.92 ERA in 17 starts this season between Single-A and High-A, where he was promoted on July 22.

MLB Pipeline writes:

Randall is a classic power sinker-slider pitcher with a low three-quarter delivery and rotation, but he actually saw an uptick in his strikeout rate when he became a starter at San Diego. His heavy sinker sits around 94-95 mph but can ramp up to 98 and induce a ton of ground balls. His high-spin slider is a nice swing-and-miss pitch off the sinker. He has a feel for a changeup, but his ability to develop it could determine whether he ends up a starter or reliever as he advances. Part of what separated Randall as a starter in college was his ability to repeat his stuff and hold his velocity late into starts.

Sales, 22, was also in the 2024 Draft class. The Tigers selected him in the 10th round out of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and he has made an impression in his first season of pro ball. Sales is 4-3 with a 2.71 ERA in 16 games (15 starts) at Single-A.

Finnegan ranks sixth in the NL this season with 20 saves (out of 26 save opportunities). He has been durable since making his Major League debut in 2020 at age 28.

Last season, Finnegan earned his first All-Star selection and recorded a career-best 38 saves (second most in the NL). He is 23-30 with a 3.66 ERA and 108 saves in his career, which began with seven years in the Athletics’ Minor League system before he reached the bigs with the Nats. He holds the second-most saves in team history (2005-present), trailing Chad Cordero by only five saves.

Later in the day, the Nationals added another two players to their Minor League system. They sent outfielder Alex Call to the Dodgers in exchange for right-handed prospects Sean Paul Liñan and Eriq Swan. Liñan and Swan enter the Nats' top 30 rankings at Nos. 10 and 12, respectively.

The Nationals have depth in the outfield, and they would have faced a logjam for playing time when Dylan Crews (left oblique strain) returns.

“I’m a big fan of Alex and how he plays and the versatility he brings and his approach at the plate, kind of everything he brings to the table,” DeBartolo said. “Ultimately, that’s one area in the outfield where we do have more options and are a little bit deeper. For us, that made sense. Dylan Crews is on a rehab assignment, not that far away. And that was an opportunity where we thought, OK, we got two interesting young pitching prospects. Alex can go play and chase that ring, and hopefully it works out for everybody.”