After a frantic final 48 hours, the dust has settled and the trade deadline has passed. The Nationals had their most active late-July since 2021, with interim general manager Mike DeBartolo making five deals involving six veterans traded away for 10 prospects in return. They didn’t make any earth-shattering moves, but swap out a sizeable group of players who didn’t figure into the club’s long-term plans for a larger group of young players who could some day.

Now, what’s left after all that? A host of questions that still need answering. Which we’ll attempt to do right here in our morning-after explainer …

WHY DIDN’T THEY TRADE JOSH BELL OR PAUL DEJONG?
Because, quite frankly, there weren’t any takers. DeBartolo said he attempted to make deals that would have given both veterans an opportunity to play on contenders before becoming free agents, but “ultimately nothing came together.” So while the five other vets on expiring contracts (Kyle Finnegan, Michael Soroka, Amed Rosario, Andrew Chafin, Luis Garcia) did get traded, Bell and DeJong did not and remain with the club as the calendar shifts to August.

HOW SERIOUS WERE THEY ABOUT TRADING MACKENZIE GORE?
Obviously, not serious enough to actually pull the trigger on what would’ve been the team’s biggest deadline deal since the blockbuster that brough Gore to D.C. in the first place three years ago. DeBartolo said two weeks ago he would listen to any offers that came his way from other clubs, but he viewed the 26-year-old lefty as a key part of their core group of young players they’re ultimately trying to win with. And he stayed true to his word. Though there were calls from a number of interested parties, none was willing to meet the exceptionally high price DeBartolo established for his ace. So Gore remains a National.

DID ALEX CALL REALLY FETCH THE BEST PROSPECT RETURN OF ANYONE?
Based on MLB Pipeline’s rankings, yes. The two players the Dodgers sent in exchange for Call (right-handers Sean Paul Liñan and Eriq Swan) now rate as the Nationals’ 10th and 12th best prospects, with the two players they acquired from the Cubs for Soroka (outfielder Christian Franklin, shortstop Ronny Cruz) each one notch below in spots No. 11 and 13. How did that happen? Well, DeBartolo sold high on Call, who over the last two seasons produced a solid .297/.388/.432 slash line across 350 plate appearances in a part-time role. He also comes with a whopping four remaining years of club control and two minor league options as well. That’s probably why L.A. was willing to give up a couple of decent prospects in return.

WITH SOROKA GONE, WHO TAKES HIS ROTATION SPOT?
It doesn’t appear the Nationals are going to make an immediate decision on that, because they have some time to figure it out. Soroka pitched Tuesday in Houston. The Nats had Thursday off, and they’ve got another day off coming up Monday, which means they don’t really need a fifth starter until next weekend in San Francisco if they want to wait. Even if they don’t wait that long, they don’t need someone until probably Tuesday or Wednesday against the Athletics. So they’ll probably carry a ninth reliever for the weekend before making another move to bring in a starter.

THAT STARTER WILL BE CADE CAVALLI, THOUGH, RIGHT?
The Nationals would certainly love for their 2020 first round pick to earn the job. Unfortunately, he’s not doing his part at Rochester to earn it right now. Cavalli labored again Thursday night, giving up four runs on six hits with three hit batters (and seven strikeouts, at least) over only four innings. In 15 total starts at Triple-A this season, he sports a 6.09 ERA. DeBartolo said he needs to see more consistency from the right-hander before calling him up. Cavalli has yet to show that.

WHO’S THE CLOSER NOW THAT FINNEGAN IS GONE?
This is going to be a problem. Really, the whole back end of the bullpen is going to be a problem with not only Finnegan but also Chafin and Garcia traded away. Brad Lord is now a starter, so he’s out of the mix. Jose A. Ferrer looks like the choice, at least against left-handed-heavy lineups. Against righties, maybe it will be Cole Henry or Zach Brzykcy. Regardless, an already shaky bullpen looks even shakier now with two months still to go this year.

HOW MANY GUYS DO THEY NEED TO CALL UP TODAY?
As things currently stand, there are only 22 players on the active major league roster. That means there are four vacancies that must be filled before first pitch tonight against the Brewers. Outfielder Robert Hassell III was scratched from Rochester’s lineup Thursday, so he’s poised to take Call’s roster spot. The Nationals then need to add three pitchers, with Orlando Ribalta, Ryan Loutos, Shinnosuke Ogasawara, Eduardo Salazar and Mason Thompson among the options on the 40-man roster. Keep in mind, they might just be focused on getting through the weekend first, then setting a more firm roster next week.

WHERE DOES THE 40-MAN ROSTER CURRENTLY STAND?
There’s only 36 players on it at the moment, because only one of the 10 prospects the Nationals acquired this week is on the 40-man roster: right-hander Clayton Beeter. They need to hold one of the available spots for Dylan Crews, who should be activated off the 60-day IL within the next week. But they also now have the ability to promote several players from the minor leagues to the majors who aren’t already on the 40-man, should they choose to do so.