Olney: 'Long shot' Nationals trade for Yankees' Andrew Miller

After the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals wrapped up an exhilarating series in the nation's capital this past Wednesday, there has been little disputation against the belief that both clubs represent the National League's best. But it doesn't mean that the Cubs and Nationals are entitled to championship reverence in mid-June. Despite Chicago owning greater talent than Washington, both teams lack bullpen prowess, and it's been no mystery that the Yankees have the answers, with 'No Runs DMC' relievers Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman as potential trade pieces this summer. On Thursday's edition of ESPN's Baseball Tonight podcast, host Buster Olney discussed the Nationals' odds of landing either Miller or Chapman with guest Keith Law, foreseeing that Washington's plan will revolve around only one southpaw: We are gonna see the Nationals take a serious run at one of the Yankees left-handers. And look, I think it’s a long shot that they’re gonna wind up with Andrew Miller, cause I think the Yankees are gonna set a very high bar, you know, ask the Cubs for Kyle Schwarber, ask the Rangers for Joey Gallo, wait for some team to meet that. But I think it’s much more likely they’re gonna move Aroldis Chapman if they wind up doing some sort of a selloff. And to me, that’s the guy I figure that the Nationals are gonna go after and they would have to compete against the Cubs to get him. Considering that the Cubs have an exceptional stock of major league-ready prospects, it appears as if Chicago would be the sweepstakes' frontrunners, with the Nationals trailing behind in a close second place. But with veteran closer Jonathan Papelbon currently on the disabled list with an intercostal strain, Washington needs back-end help, which could come from a rental like Chapman, who becomes a free agent at the end of the season. While the Yankees' trade candidates have been identified, the Nationals' pieces haven't, and Law explained to Olney that the Yankees will have trouble in negotiating for top-tier prospects, as there isn't much wiggle room on Washington's end. They could ask for [Lucas] Giolito, they’re not getting Giolito. They could ask for Victor Robles who is in Low-A, but I think Robles has established himself as a top prospect within the Nats’ system and I would expect the Nats to probably balk at that. It would be a home run if the Yankees got him, but I think that’s way too much, especially if we’re talking about Chapman and it’s a rental situation here.

Giolito, 21, has a 2.64 ERA and a 62:29 strikeout-to-walk ratio as a starter for Double-A Harrisburg, and is ranked the fifth-best prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America. Robles, a 19-year-old outfielder with speed and contact, has earned a slashline of .316/.420/.456 in 57 games with Low-A Hagerstown, including five home runs, 28 runs batted in and 17 steals. Both players have been deemed the Nationals' top farmhands, but the odds of New York receiving either one are more slim with a deal for Chapman than it is for an arm like Miller, who is under contract until 2018, according to Law. The Yankees have not been accustomed to selling under general manager Brian Cashman's regime, but the Nationals will be calling, as will the Cubs, in another National League battle this summer. You can listen to the entire podcast here, with Olney and Law discussing the Yankees in the first 13 minutes.