MLB Trades: Jonny Gomes Not a Smart Acquisition by Washington Nationals

On Tuesday night, the Washington Nationals acquired Jonny Gomes and cash from the Reds in exchange for two minor league players.  This could possibly mean that not only do the Nationals consider themselves contenders, but that the Reds consider themselves out of the playoff race.  This deal works out in Cincinnati's favor.

Not only do the Reds get to call up highly touted prospect Yonder Alonso, but the new combination of Fred Lewis and Chris Heisey in left field is an upgrade over the platoon situation they had with Jonny Gomes.

Gomes had a solid year with Cincinnati last year, but this year he is not hitting for average and isn't hitting for as much power as he usually does with only 11 home runs.

Power isn't much of an issue for Washington, seeing as how both Mike Morse and Danny Espinosa have 17 home runs, the surprising Laynce Nix has 12 and even young Wilson Ramos has nine.

The fact that Laynce Nix has the kind of numbers he has without necessarily being an everyday player is pretty amazing.  That he's not an everyday player is absurd, seeing as how he is hitting .267 with the aforementioned 12 homers and 35 RBI.  He is better than any of the other options the Nationals have in left field, whether it's Jerry Hairston Jr. or Roger Bernadina.

Nix is not only better than those two but is also better than Gomes.  It would be a little surprising if the Nationals plan to use Gomes as an everyday player.  He is only hitting .211, and Washington already has some very bad averages in their lineup such as Ramos, Espinosa, Desmond, Werth and Ankiel.  They certainly don't need another one.

It's doubtful, but if Washington thinks that this move can help their slim playoff hopes, they are wrong.  Gomes would be a solid option off the bench as a pinch-hitter, but not as a full time, or even part-time player.  The left field job should belong to Laynce Nix and nobody else.

It's also very doubtful that Gomes will be playing right field.  Jayson Werth isn't about to be benched with the contract that he received this past offseason.  Even though his .217 average is horrible, and his 11 homers and 35 RBI aren't impressive either, Washington will probably still stick with him as the everyday right fielder.

This may get Nationals fans excited because they actually acquired a player at the trade deadline, but overall, this was a much better deal for the Reds.