Martinez said he wasn’t aware of any planned trades when he decided to move, he just liked the combination.
“I’m excited, you know?” Winker said after the game. “I get to be a part of a great team that’s winning a lot. It’s a great opportunity. And obviously I’m just so grateful to everybody here, for giving me the opportunity to come here and play every day. I’m so grateful to Mike Liz and Davey, they really gave me a chance and I’m so grateful for that.”
The move marks the second the Nationals have made this month before Tuesday’s trade deadline at 6 p.m. They added relief pitcher Hunter Harvey trades to the Royals On July 14, the team traded third baseman Cayden Wallace and draft picks for catcher Caleb Lomativa.
Those trades likely aren’t done yet. Relief pitcher Dylan Floro, who is nearing the end of his contract, could be an attractive option for a championship-contending team. As well, closer Kyle Finnegan and outfielder Lane Thomas, who are under contract with the team through 2025, could also be moved by Tuesday.
The game started after a 124-minute rain delay, and the decision to pinch-hitter for Winker proved to be a success, as Harold Ramirez hit a two-run double and a seven-run blitz effectively ended the game. The Nationals overcame bases-loaded problems for two innings before Ramirez broke through.
The hit was the first of four consecutive hits allowed by Matthew Liberatore. Juan Yepes then hit a two-run single, then James Wood doubled to center field. Cavert Lewis then hit a three-run homer to make the score 9–0. Ramirez added a one-run single to give the Nationals four runs in the ninth.
“The game started off weird, I think we left 12 runners on base,” Martinez said, “but we won in big moments. Our guys started making good at-bats, getting the ball in the zone, not chasing, hitting the ball into the gaps.”
On his final night with the Nationals, Winker left the game with 2 hits and 1 RBI for 3 at bats.
The Nationals signed Winker to a minor league contract this offseason, hoping to replicate the All-Star performance he showed in 2021. Winker struggled at the plate in 2022 with Seattle, batting .199 in 61 games with the Milwaukee Brewers last season. Winker, 30, was one of the Nationals’ most consistent hitters, batting .257 with a .793 OPS. He was second on the team in home runs (11) and third in RBIs (45). He was also a leader in the clubhouse and a role model for his younger teammates, especially shortstop C.J. Abrams. Martinez praised Winker’s energy and preparation.
“I think we all leaned on him a little bit,” said Wood, who was 4-for-4 at bat. “It’s a tough situation, but we always wish him the best. Obviously, he’s going to remain in our division, so we don’t just wish him the best, but yeah, he’s been great.”
The Nationals added potential comeback players like Winker, Joey Gallo, Eddie Rosario and Nick Senzel to their roster this year, hoping one of them would pay off. Renaissance The trade has paid off: Last year, the Nationals traded infielder Jeimer Candelario to the Chicago Cubs for two top prospects, including left-hander DJ Hurts, who is now in Washington’s starting rotation, and the Nationals are hoping the Winker trade will strengthen their team in a similar way.
Winker said it was the first time in his career that his name was mentioned at the trade deadline, and it was hard to separate the weight of the rumors from the baseball. When Harvey was traded before the break, Winker realized he might be traded, too. That didn’t seem to affect him Saturday.
Winker contributed in the final game, hitting a fly single in the third inning to put the Nationals up 2-0. Jake Irvin, who pitched an easy 5 1/3 innings, gave up a two-run homer to Willson Contreras in the sixth to end his time on the mound.
Now Winker is heading north up I-95 to the division rival Mets, who are in the midst of a tight wild-card race, and in September he’ll have a chance to face off against the former teammates he said his bye to on Saturday night.
“I just hope that everybody here takes me easy,” Winker said with a smile. “I mean, there are a lot of good pitchers here. I just hope that they take me easy.”
