Mike Rizzo made it pretty clear during his last interview with The Junkies that the Nationals will likely trade most of their players who are on expiring contracts. That list would include Josh Bell, Nelson Cruz, Cesar Hernandez, Ehire Adrianza, Maikel Franco, Dee Strange-Gordon, Steve Cishek, Carl Edwards Jr., Erasmo Ramirez and Sean Doolittle (if he can return before the deadline). If you think there’s a player I left off this list, you’re right. Alcides Escobar was left off this list because nobody wants him.

So let’s say that 8 of these 10 players are actually dealt at the deadline. My guess is that it’s possible that the Nats end up hanging onto Franco and Doolittle. Franco’s numbers are right on par with his career numbers (a tick better, actually), but I don’t see a whole lot of interest in him at the deadline. His low OPS and low BB% aren’t exactly appealing to a contender. On top of that, the Nats won’t get Carter Kieboom back this season, so there’s nobody really knocking on the door to take Franco’s spot. As for Doolittle, if he’s able to come back, it’s possible the Nats deal him. That’s a big if, though, and it seems like he would be a guy Rizzo would hang onto to mentor the younger guys in the bullpen.

I think Bell, Cruz, Hernandez, Adrianza, Strange-Gordon, Edwards, Ramirez and Cishek are all as good as gone. Bell and Cruz can instantly be plugged into the middle of the order for a contender, while Hernandez, Adrianza and Strange-Gordon would all be great bench options for a contender. Adrianza and Strange-Gordon can both play middle-IF and OF. On top of that, Strange-Gordon will add some speed to a contender’s bench. As for Cishek, Ramirez and Edwards, contenders are always looking for bullpen help. After a rough first couple of weeks, Cishek has turned it around as of late. Cishek owns a 2.35 ERA over his last 15 games. Edwards has been a huge surprise posting a 2.08 ERA for the Nationals this season. Meanwhile, Ramirez has also been a consistent, unexpected and productive arm in the bullpen posting a 3.28 ERA through 24 2/3 innings so far this year.

So where does this leave the Nats? They’d be without their starting 1B, DH and 2B and down two bench players and three relievers. That’s not including the possibility that Rizzo could decide to deal a controllable player. Someone like Yadiel Hernandez or Tanner Rainey. Let’s take a look at what an August 3rd roster might look like for the Nationals if they only deal players on expiring contracts:

Starters

C – Kiebert Ruiz

1B – Joey Meneses

2B – Lucius Fox

SS – Luis Garcia

3B – Maikel Franco

LF – Lane Thomas

CF – Victor Robles

RF – Juan Soto

DH – Yadiel Hernandez

Bench

C – Riley Adams

IF – Jake Alu

IF – Alcides Escobar

OF – Donovan Casey (this could be Josh Palacios instead)

Rotation

SP – Stephen Strasburg

SP – Patrick Corbin (unfortunately)

SP – Josiah Gray

SP – Cade Cavalli

SP – Erick Fedde

Bullpen

CL – Tanner Rainey

RP – Kyle Finnegan

RP – Paolo Espino

LHP – Sean Doolittle

LHP – Josh Rogers

RP – Hunter Harvey

RP – Victor Arano

LHP – Matt Cronin

Now it’s possible that the Bell or Cruz trade could bring back a player that immediately takes a spot on the active roster. Either way, this is a less than impressive roster. But dealing these players is going to give the Nats farm system another mid-season boost. On top of that, a roster this bad for the final two months of the season will all but assure the Nats of a top 3 pick in next year’s draft. This lineup should be one of the Nats worst since 2008. It will be exciting to see guys like Cavalli and Cronin, and it’s even possible that Meneses and/or Alu surprise us. But other than that, try to enjoy the Soto, Ruiz and Garcia ABs, because it’s going to be an ugly end to an ugly season.