The Nationals were three games over .500 heading into play on July 4, but a 6-9 record over their last 15 games has dropped the Nats back to even at 52-52.\u00a0 Washington is still only three games behind the Diamondbacks for the last NL wild card spot, but it\u2019s a crowded race that also has three teams (the Pirates, Cardinals, and Marlins) ahead of the Nats, plus the Padres are a game back of the D.C. squad at 51-53.<\/p>\n
The situation puts the Nationals sitting squarely on the fence as the trade deadline approaches, yet a .500 record on July 25 is worlds better than expected for a rebuilding club that was expected to be one of the worst in baseball.\u00a0 As such, the Nats haven\u2019t given up hope on staying in the playoff race.\u00a0 \u201cBarring a massive collapse\u201d for the club in the next week, The Athletic\u2019s Spencer Nusbaum<\/a> writes that D.C. is aiming \u201cto add at least one big-league player and will even consider acquiring a player on an expiring contract if they deem it is the right fit.\u201d<\/p>\n This doesn\u2019t mean the Nationals will suddenly push for Tarik Skubal<\/a> or any other big names at the top of the trade market, as Nusbaum suggests that the buying could be something as modest as an inexpensive reliever to help Washington\u2019s woeful bullpen.\u00a0 It also doesn\u2019t mean that the Nats won\u2019t stop fielding offers for the likes of CJ Abrams<\/a>, Foster Griffin<\/a>, or Luis Garcia Jr.<\/a>, as Washington\u2019s deadline could involve both buying and selling.<\/p>\n