Nats Pitching Upgrade
Washington Nationals Trade Christian Franklin for Joe Glassey to Bolster Pitching Farm System
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Key Points
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Joe Glassey has a 2.20 career ERA across 48 minor-league relief appearances, with 97 strikeouts and 10 walks in 65 1/3 innings, and he recently reached Double-A with Baltimore; scouts note he may need to add velocity to his fastball to reach the majors.
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Christian Franklin is on the Nationals' 40-man roster and posted a 101 wRC+ over 93 Triple-A games this season, with plus speed and defensive versatility; he was part of the Cubs-to-Nats Soroka package in 2024.
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The trade is framed as part of Washington’s broader strategy to upgrade pitching across the organization by moving depth to bolster arms in the majors and in the farm system.
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This marks the second-ever trade between the Nationals and Orioles in the DC era; the clubs previously completed a deal that sent Kyle Nicolas to Washington in exchange for minor-league infielder Randal Diaz.
The Washington Nationals have traded outfielder Christian Franklin to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for right-handed pitcher Joe Glassey, according to CBS Sports and Audacy. The deal was made ahead of the trade deadline and marks just the second-ever trade between the two clubs in the DC era.
Franklin, 26, had posted a 101 wRC+ — a stat where 100 equals league average — across 93 Triple-A games this season. In return, Washington gets Glassey, 25, a hard-throwing reliever who recently reached Double-A with Baltimore, per SI.
Franklin Brings Speed and Versatility to Baltimore
Christian Franklin gives the Orioles an experienced, versatile outfielder from their own division. He hit at a league-average clip in Triple-A this year and brings plus speed and strong defense, according to CBS Sports. He was on Washington's 40-man roster, meaning the Nationals valued him enough to protect him from other teams.
Franklin originally came to Washington as part of the Cubs-to-Nationals trade package that sent Mike Soroka to Chicago in 2024, per Audacy. He had been blocked in DC by a crowded outfield and several top outfield prospects already in the pipeline.
Glassey's Elite Strikeout Numbers Attract Washington
Joe Glassey has been dominant in the minor leagues as a reliever. He owns a 2.20 career ERA across 48 minor-league relief appearances. In 65 1/3 innings, he has struck out 97 batters while walking just 10 — a ratio that stands out at any level, according to NBC Sports.
This season alone, Glassey posted a 2.64 ERA with a 53-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 30 2/3 innings. Scouts believe he has real upside, though SI noted he may need to add velocity to his fastball to reach the majors. He had just arrived at Double-A when this trade was made.
Nationals Continue Rebuilding by Stacking Pitching Depth
Washington has made pitching a priority this offseason and into the trade deadline. This deal fits a clear pattern: move outfield depth, add arms. The Nationals view Glassey as a high-upside addition to a farm system that already has several pitching prospects climbing the ladder, per SI.
The Nationals and Orioles had only made one prior trade in the DC era. That earlier deal sent pitcher Kyle Nicolas to Washington in exchange for minor-league infielder Randal Diaz, according to Audacy. This second swap shows both clubs are willing to work across the Beltway again.
A Strategic Bet for Both Sides Before the Deadline
For Baltimore, adding Franklin is a low-risk move for outfield depth. He could see MLB time if injuries hit. For Washington, Glassey is a gamble — his numbers are eye-catching, but moving from Double-A to the majors is a big jump, especially if his fastball does not improve.
Both teams are betting on upside over certainty. Washington gives up a proven depth piece to grab a pitcher with rare strikeout stuff. Baltimore gets a ready outfielder who has shown he can hit and run at the upper levels of the minors, according to CBS Sports.
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