MLB Insider Considers Nationals Closer Strong Fit for Phillies

The Washington Nationals are encountering one of their roughest patches in recent memory. The Nationals are in the midst of a 10-game losing streak, which is currently the longest in MLB, and have suffered two consecutive defeats to the Colorado Rockies.

Before the season began, the team was not expected to compete for a playoff spot as it continues to rebuild since winning the World Series in 2019. But the further the Nationals drift out of the NL Wild Card race, the more likely they are to deal some of their most valuable pieces close to the trade deadline.

Kyle Finnegan, the Nationals' go-to ninth-inning option out of the bullpen for the past three seasons, is among the players teams in contention could be interested in. MLB Network insider Mark Feinsand believes that Finnegan would be a good fit a number of squads, including the Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays.

Feinsand also lists the Philadelphia Phillies as a team that should be interested in acquiring Finnegan in a trade.

"Late-inning relievers are always in demand this time of year, so Finnegan – who has 18 saves and a 3.12 ERA in 26 appearances – should draw significant interest from a number of contenders," Feinsand wrote. "An All-Star in 2024, Finnegan ranks in the 65th percentile in ground-ball rate (45.6%) and his 96.1 mph average fastball ranks in the 80th percentile."