PHOENIX – Relievers Kyle Finnegan and Dylan Floro were at the center of Nationals trade buzz as the Trade Deadline approached at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday at Chase Field.

All-Star closer Finnegan remained on the team while Floro was dealt – down the hall – to the D-backs. Washington acquired Minor League third baseman Andrés Chaparro in exchange for Floro prior to their 17-0 loss to the D-backs.

TRADE DETAILS
Nationals get: Minor League 3B Andrés Chaparro
D-backs get: RHP Dylan Floro

Washington had already made a trio of trades leading up to Tuesday. On July 13, the Nationals sent reliever Hunter Harvey to the Royals for third baseman Cayden Wallace (No. 7 prospect) and the No. 39 Draft pick, which they used to select catcher Caleb Lomavita. On Sunday, they moved Jesse Winker to the Mets for right-hander Tyler Stuart (No. 17) and on Monday they traded outfielder Lane Thomas to the Guardians for southpaw Alex Clemmey (No. 6), infielder Rafael Ramirez Jr. (No. 23) and infielder José Tena.

• Meet the prospects the Nationals added at the Deadline

“We fulfilled a lot of our objectives at the Trade Deadline,” general manager Mike Rizzo said. “I think we got a deeper Minor League system. We feel that we’ve got a couple impact players. I think that it’s going to prove that it’s going to be beneficial long term. We’re happy with the return. The process we felt worked well for us.”

Chaparro is batting .332 in Triple-A this season, leading Arizona’s Minor League system in on-base percentage and hits. The 25-year-old corner infielder recorded 26 doubles, one triple, 19 home runs, 75 RBIs, 41 walks, three stolen bases and 69 runs scored in 95 games. Chapparo was a member of the Yankees organization from 2017-23.

Floro, 33, signed a one-year deal worth $2.25 million plus incentives in December, and he proved to be a valuable member of the Nats' bullpen. He went 3-3 with a 2.06 ERA in 51 relief appearances (51 1/3 innings). He has allowed only one home run all season.

Floro began his tenure with the Nationals by delivering 21 2/3 scoreless innings from April 8-May 26, the longest single-season stretch by a reliever in team history (2005-present).

“I’ve seen it before, but it’s a little different myself being in these shoes,” Floro said. “But it’s part of it; [you] never knew what was going to happen. Just trying to play each day, come here, get ready for a game. Just going to be getting ready in a different uniform today.”

Without Floro, manager Dave Martinez plans to tab right-hander Tanner Rainey for higher-leverage innings. In his first full season back from undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2022, Rainey has only pitched in low-leverage situations (29 innings, 5.90 ERA).

“Rainey’s going to have to probably step up a little bit here now,” Martinez said. “I’ve taken care of him throughout the summer. He’s been pitching better, so we might have to put him in some high-leverage situations. But I want to see [Eduardo] Salazar pitch a little bit more, hopefully [Jordan] Weems gets better and he can fill that void as well, but we’ve also got [Joan] Adon, too, that could give us some innings, and maybe some important innings as well.

“We’ll figure it out. The good thing is, we get to the ninth inning, we have Finnegan. And that’s awesome.”

Martinez called Finnegan into his office after the Trade Deadline passed to let him know he was staying with the Nats. The reliever market was hot this season, and Finnegan ranks second in the National League (third overall) with 28 saves.

“He’s proven that he can handle a closer’s role,” Rizzo said. “I don’t think we were asking for anything extravagant, but we did want market value for a closer that has another year of control. And that had a lot to do with it – we weren’t handcuffed or forced to move a player because his contract’s expiring or financial ramifications. We like this player. We think that he’s going to help this year and next year. He’s a wonderful person.”

Every season since the revamp in 2021, the Nationals have taken steps to build toward their future. Those who remained on the team past the Trade Deadline look forward to being part of it.

“Seeing this thing through – you can see it starting to come together,” Finnegan said. “The young talent that we have is exciting to watch every night. To be out there pitching in front of these guys and have them behind you is special.”