The Washington Nationals chose to essentially stand pat at the non-waiver trade deadline last month because they believed they were still in the playoff hunt, but they have changed their approach at the waiver deadline.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Nationals have traded reliever Ryan Madson to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
#Dodgers acquiring Ryan Madson from #Nationals, source tells The Athletic. Return not yet known. Claim of Madson first reported by @kengurnick.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 31, 2018
Madson has been one of the better relief pitchers in baseball throughout his career, but he has an ERA of 5.28 and has struggled this season. The left-hander is 2-5 and has blown three saves, though he recently said an injury was to blame for at least one of his poor outings.
If the Dodgers can get anything close to the Madson who posted a 1.83 ERA last season in 60 appearances between the Nationals and Oakland A’s, they should have a nice new addition for the final month of the year and possibly the postseason.
