The August 3rd MLB Trade Deadline grows closer by the day, and one name that has become increasingly tied to trade rumors is the Nationals’ Luis Garcia Jr. Amidst a breakout season, Garcia Jr. has 1.5 years of control remaining, and is being viewed as one of the better bats on the market as teams search for reinforcements to power a deep October run.
With the likelihood that he gets traded rising, it’s time to start looking at who the Nats could be receiving in return for his services. President of
Baseball Operations Paul Toboni is set to embark on his first deadline as the head of Washington’s front office, marking another big test in his young tenure. With bolstering the farm system an essential part of building a championship contender, here are 5 prospects who could headline a return for Garcia Jr. if Toboni chooses to deal him.
RHP Kyson Witherspoon, BOS (#4) – 50 FRV
The majority of smoke surrounding a possible Garcia Jr. deal has involved the surging Red Sox, who have been linked as both a possible suitor and a team with varying levels of interest in making a move for him. If those rumors come to fruition, Witherspoon is a perfect player for Toboni to get back as the bulk of the return. The former Oklahoma righty was Boston’s top MLB Draft selection in 2025, and while his prospect prestige has taken a bit of a hit with persistent struggles in 2026, his ceiling as a long-term MLB starter is still very much real.
Witherspoon’s value in a trade at this current moment is far below what it would have been just a handful of months ago, but he could see a rise to becoming a Top 100 prospect once again in a similar amount of time. Toboni’s familiarity with him from his time in Boston could bring added motivation to acquire and develop the 21-year-old, and his name has already been floated on social media as a realistic fit for Washington to receive in a deal with the Sox.
INF Starlyn Caba, MIA (#6) – 50 FRV
Caba was a high-priced international free agent who started his career in Philadelphia before being shipped to Miami as part of the Jesus Luzardo trade. He was seen as a speed/defense-first infielder, with bat-to-ball skills that would need lengthy development before producing at the MLB level. After posting an OPS of .669 and .613 in 2024 and 2025, respectively, his promotion to High-A to begin his 2026 campaign seems to have unlocked something in the 5-foot-9 infielder.
His 5 home runs to date, while not an incredibly impressive number by any means, have already set a new career-high, and he’s slashing .251/.399/.395 across 215 at-bats, good for a .794 OPS. With questions surrounding the future of the Washington infield and a substantial improvement in their minor league offensive developmental program under Toboni, Caba is exactly the type of prospect for Washington to go after. With the defensive aspect of his game already quite advanced, if they can replicate what they’ve done to other prospects this year in terms of furthering their development with the bat, he could very well be a key piece to the Nats’ future if they make a move for him.
INF Demetrio Crisantes, ARI (#3) – 50 FRV
Pitching is likely the focus of Arizona’s deadline plans as they push for a playoff berth, but adding a final piece to their lineup could also be in the cards. If they explore dealing for Garcia Jr., the Nationals might look to get a prospect in Crisantes who matches up perfectly as his future replacement. Crisantes has scorched his way through 3 levels of the minors this season, and is showing no signs of slowing down. His hit tool is very much a strength, and with iffy defensive skills, this could be a way for Washington to acquire a similar profile to Garcia Jr. with much more control.
The Diamondbacks’ 3rd-ranked prospect is currently mashing for the AA Amarillo Sod Poodles, and MLB Pipeline has his MLB ETA listed as 2027. Selling off Garcia Jr. (and their other rental pieces) would indicate that the Nats’ front office still views their contending window as further down the line. The aforementioned improved hitting development infrastructure could turn someone like Crisantes into a player that could fuel their next playoff run, whether that be in 2027 or beyond.
RHP Jaxon Wiggins, CHI (#3) – 55 FRV
Back to the pitching side, an arm like Wiggins might be too valuable to get for Garcia Jr. alone, but could be a part of a larger package deal between Washington and Chicago. MLB Pipeline’s #88 overall prospect and 3rd in the Cubs’ system, Wiggins is a 6’6” behemoth with an intriguing 4-pitch mix but has pitched to varying results through 2+ seasons in pro ball. Some injury issues have made his 2026 season numbers much more complicated than what appears on paper, but an ERA above 6 is certainly cause for deeper evaluation.
Wiggins has emerged as a trade candidate in recent days as the Cubs are set to be buyers at the deadline, and, similar to Witherspoon, he might be just the kind of buy-low pitching prospect that the Nats could strike gold with. At 24 years old, his future is still thought of as being quite bright, and Washington may be able to streamline his development with reps against MLB hitters. Most of the Nationals’ pitching future lies in the lower levels of the minors, and an arm like Wiggins, who boasts 3 above-average offerings including a 70-grade fastball, provides exciting promise as both a short-term and long-term rotation option.
LHP Kash Mayfield, SDP (#4) – 50 FRV
Mayfield exists on the other side of the developmental spectrum, a high school draftee in 2024 who is multiple years away from getting his first real taste of the majors. He posted a sub-3.00 ERA in A ball across 60.2 innings in 2025, and seen similar success at High-A in 2026, with that mark only rising to 3.20 through his first 14 starts. Just about every notable arm in the Nats’s system as it stands is a righty, including the 2 potential trade targets mentioned in this article, so going after a southpaw has to be considered, especially if Foster Griffin is dealt.
This lefty’s arsenal is headlined by a deadly changeup, and his future outlook will be defined by gaining the ability to maintain the velocity on his fastball. With velocity being plentiful among the Nats’ current MiLB arms, that seems to be an area that they have become experienced in training. With AJ Preller’s never-ending desire to contend and play in October, one that is routinely followed by making risky and ambitious trades, Washington could prey on that desire and pry away Mayfield in exhange for Garcia Jr.
