Veteran outfielder Alex Call has played his last game as a National. The rebuilding club traded him to the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.
In return, the Nationals landed right-handed pitching prospects Eriq Swan and Sean Paul Linan. The minor leaguers were the 16th- and 20th-ranked prospects in the Dodgers’ system, according to MLB Pipeline.
Call, 30, broke the trend set by Nationals interim general manager Mike DeBartolo. Most of the players Washington shipped out this summer were on expiring deals. Call was under team control through 2029.
But the versatile outfielder was being crowded out by younger options. Rising stars like James Wood and Dylan Crews project to be lineup staples, while second-year center fielder Jacob Young provides more defensive prowess.
While Crews has recovered from injury, other young players like Daylen Lile and Robert Hassell III have stolen playing time from Call.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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