Should The Nats Trade Ryan Zimmerman?

[jdlea]

Originally Posted by Buster

Maybe they could get a competent closer for him.

A team should, in theory, never trade a position player for a closer. Just get good young arms, if one of them shows he can't go long, move him into the bullpen and see if he can close. It's never a good idea to go out and get a young guy with a "closer" label for the sake of getting a closer IMO.

If they traded they would need to take back the best talent they can, regardless of position. 3rd is the position they could be set at and if they trade him they have to explore every possible option. I think Zimmerman could probably 2-3 of an org's top 10 prospects, probably 3, but if I were an opposing GM, there's no way I give up my best prospect for Zimmerman.

To put it better, if I were the O's I wouldn't give up any of Matusz, Arrietta, Tillman. I might give up Patton. And if you want to extend "prospect" to young players (consider Markakis untouchable) I wouldn't give up Jones or Wieters and I would probably balk at Reimold unless someone was coming with Zimmerman.