My attention was called to this possible trade target by a BCB reader:
The original MLB Trade Rumors article D98 is referencing cited this article by Nationals writer Spencer Nusbaum in The Athletic:
A number of teams have expressed interest in Crews, according to multiple people around the sport who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the conversations are internal and ongoing. The Nationals have not taken the former No. 2 pick off the table in trade talks, as they have with James Wood, Cade
Cavalli and now Young.
Several teams have also expressed interest in Nationals outfielder Daylen Lile, though one rival executive said they got the impression that to actually move him, the Nationals would “need to be blown away.” Multiple rival evaluators believe Crews, 24, is more likely to be dealt than Lile this winter.
So. If the Cubs aren’t going to re-sign Ian Happ and/or Seiya Suzuki, could Dylan Crews be a potential replacement? Crews was the Nats’ first-round pick (second overall) in 2023 out of LSU. He immediately jumped into Top 10 overall MLB prospect lists the following year (Baseball America, MLB Pipeline and Baseball Prospectus) after batting .292/.377/.467 with five home runs in just 35 games in the Nats system.
But Crews’ MLB career has been, to put it mildly, a disappointment. In 225 MLB games covering 897 plate appearances, he has batted .217/.285/.363 with 26 home runs and 209 strikeouts, mostly playing right field for Washington.
Crews is the same age as Pete Crow-Armstrong. Both will turn 25 early next year. At that age, there’s certainly time for Crews to turn his career around. As D98 pointed out, this would be a change of scenery deal, so perhaps including Kevin Alcántara in such a trade would work for both teams. I would guess the Cubs would have to include a pitching prospect as well, since Crews has a lot more MLB experience than Alcántara, who has played in just 37 MLB games with 50 plate appearances.
I think I’d do this deal. It certainly couldn’t hurt. If nothing else, even if the Cubs did re-sign Suzuki after trading for Crews, he could be a decent bench player and spare-part outfielder.
Would you do it?
