3 Unexpected Trade Deadline Moves Nationals Should Make This Summer

Everyone expected the Washington Nationals to take a step back without Bryce Harper, but no one expected this. The Nationals are behind the tire fire that is the Mets in fourth place in the NL East, ahead of only the pitiful Marlins. Once July rolls around, expect a full-on fire sale to happen if they continue to slide down into baseball's basement. These three moves could, and should, happen.

3. Howie Kendrick to the Yankees

Kendrick has aged like a fine wine, raking at a .305 clip with seven home runs and 25 RBI in his age-35 season. For a Yankees team that has been almost comically snakebitten with injuries, Kendrick would give them a low-floor veteran with the versatility to play several positions without having to give up a top prospect. Also, Kendrick wouldn't be able to kill the Yankees anymore, a definite bonus in their eyes.

2. Sean Doolittle to the Cubs

While Wednesday night's meltdown has inflated Doolittle's ERA, the Nationals closer remains a consistently effective lefty out of the bullpen. The Cubs are still waiting for Brandon Morrow to return, forcing them to turn to Steve Cishek to pitch the ninth inning. Adding Doolittle would legitimize that entire bullpen and make Chicago serious contenders.

1. Anthony Rendon to the Twins

Minnesota has finally ended the dominance of the Indians, currently holding a seven-game lead over Cleveland in the AL Central. In order to hold them off, however, they need a better option at third than Marwin Gonzalez. Rendon, who will be a free agent after this season, is the type of dynamic half-year rental who will play great defense and hit third every day for a Twins team still looking for that intimidation factor in the middle of the order.