The Washington Nationals’ midsummer sale has continued as the team traded outfielder and designated hitter Jesse Winker to the New York Mets in exchange for Tyler Stuart, a right-handed pitching prospect.
Winker, 31, has exceeded expectations after joining the Nationals on a minor league contract during the offseason. The former Milwaukee Brewer entered Sunday batting .257 with 11 home runs and 14 stolen bases through 101 appearances in 2024. He is earning $2 million this season and can become a free agent after the World Series.
Winker, who turns 31 next month, was an All-Star for Cincinnati in 2021 before a down year with Seattle in 2022 and an injury-wrecked one with Milwaukee in 2023
“I can’t say enough amazing things about this team,” Winker said of the Mets. “I’m excited to be a part of it.”
He learned of the trade Saturday night during the Nationals’ 14-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals — although the teams didn’t announce the deal until Sunday morning.
“It was shortly after my third at-bat,” Winker said. “Once I found out I was coming (to New York), I was extremely excited.”
Stuart, 24, was the No. 17 prospect in the Mets’ organization. The Southern Mississippi product recorded a 3.97 ERA through 17 starts with Double-A Binghamton this season. Last year, he led all of minor league baseball with a 2.20 ERA across 20 starts in Double-A and High-A.
Winker is the latest trade for a Nationals organization that is still rebuilding — general manager Mike Rizzo also traded reliever Hunter Harvey in exchange for a prospect earlier this month.
Washington’s squad — led by promising young players like shortstop C.J. Abrams and outfielder James Wood — held a 49-56 record entering Sunday’s games, 16 1/2 games behind the division-leading Phillies.
Insiders around the league expect Rizzo to remain active ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline. All-Star closer Kyle Finnegan and outfielder Lane Thomas, two players who will become free agents in the offseason, are considered likely trade candidates.
This article is based in part on wire service reports.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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