Trading Daniel Murphy, Washington Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo explained after the August 21, 2018 deal that sent the veteran infielder to the Chicago Cubs, gave the Nationals payroll flexibility in 2019 and a chance to look at players in the organization that could potentially play a role in the future.
The Murphy trade was one of two that day, along with the deal that sent Matt Adams to St. Louis, and those trades followed moves that sent Brandon Kintzler to the Cubs and Shawn Kelley to the Oakland A’s.
“These moves allow us financial flexibility going into the 2019 season,” Rizzo explained, “.