New MLB Trade Rumors on Nationals' Luis Garcia Talks Ahead of 2026 Trade Deadline

The Washington Nationals could consider cashing in on infielder Luis García Jr.'s career-best 2026 season with a trade.

The Athletics Will Sammon and Spencer Nusbaum reported Saturday "multiple teams are expressing interest in acquiring García in a trade."

Sammon and Nusbaum noted the Nationals have "yet to seriously engage on the topic" but "are open to listening further."

García, who will turn 30 in December, is earning $6.875 million this season and remains under team control through the 2027 campaign.

He has recorded a career-high .284 batting average and personal-best 20 home runs through 90 games of his seventh season with the Nationals.

He performs best against right-handed pitchers, against whom he has slashed .293/.327/.582 with 18 home runs in 89 games.

García at times sits against left-handers (.225/.244/.375 with two home runs in 28 games). He still leads the Nats with 68 RBI so far this season.

The Nationals, which sit at 49-49 heading into the weekend, have just over two weeks to determine a possible trade for García before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

García has taken almost all of his starts at first base this season, an adjustment from playing most of the prior three seasons as second base.

That second-base experience is part of the reason Sammon and Nusbaum named the Red Sox as a potential fit to trade for García.

Boston's Anthony Seigler has been contributing offense from the position since his call-up to MLB, but his experience as a utility player in the minors could allow him to slot in elsewhere in the infield if needed.

The Red Sox have gone 11-1 in July to climb back into Wild Card contention. MLB Network's Jon Morosi indicated the franchise had pivoted away from being sellers when he reported Friday a trade for closer Aroldis Chapman was "increasingly unlikely."

ESPN's Jeff Passan recently reported the Red Sox's "plans are fluid," but the Red Sox aren't "discounting pursuing help."

The Nationals could potentially fill in for García by turning to first baseman prospect Abimelec Ortiz, the club's No. 25 prospect via MLB Pipeline.

Nusbaum reported in June the Nats are high on Ortiz and wanted to have him "play every day" rather than call him up to MLB and bench him.

Whether Ortiz sees more MLB action this season could depend on what the Nats ultimately decide regarding García.

García, who grew up in the Dominican Republic, was originally signed by the Nationals in 2016. He has played 694 games while spending all seven seasons of his MLB career with Washington.