With just over two weeks before the Aug. 3 deadline, a breakout Washington Nationals slugger is gaining traction in trade talks.
According to Will Sammon and Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic, multiple teams are expressing interest in acquiring lefty-hitting infielder Luis García Jr. from the Nationals. The report added that Washington is open to listening to offers, though it values García highly because of his talent and an additional year of club control at an affordable salary.
García, 26, is making $6.875 million this season. He is eligible for arbitration one final time this winter before entering free agency following the 2027 season.
Now in his seventh big league season, García is in the midst of a career year at the plate. The lefty slugger hit .284/.317/.554 in 90 games before the All-Star break, setting a new career-high in home runs (20) in the process. He also recorded 68 RBI, 16 doubles and three triples.
For his career, García owns a .729 OPS and 102 OPS+, both of which are slightly above league average. The Athletic noted that his performance against left-handed pitching (.619 OPS) could be a concern for some teams, as he does most of his damage (.909 OPS) against right-handers. That said, there are not many comparable power bats currently available on the trade market.
Defensively, García has shown improvement after making the full-time switch to first base in 2026. He placed toward the bottom of the league in fielding run value in all but one of his previous six seasons as a middle infielder but now ranks in the 60th percentile at his new position.
Talks surrounding García have reportedly not gone beyond a “preliminary stage” as the Nationals evaluate their plans heading into the trade deadline. Sunday’s 23-4 win over the Athletics improved their record to 49-49, leaving them just three games back of the final NL Wild Card spot.
García is Washington’s longest-tenured player, an integral part of the clubhouse and a major contributor to a lineup that ranks at or near the top of the league in most offensive categories this season. Those factors could complicate the front office’s decision if a strong offer emerges, especially with a postseason spot within reach and another year of club control remaining.
