Busy Finnegan trying to keep mind off trade deadline this time around

HOUSTON – Kyle Finnegan has been here before, the trade deadline fast approaching, his name bandied about as a potential target to be acquired by a contending team, the Nationals fielding offers for their veteran closer.

It happened in 2023, and he wasn’t traded. It happened in 2024, and he wasn’t traded. This time, the odds would seem to be tilted heavily toward an actual trade, given his pending status as a free agent and the Nats’ continued status at the bottom of the National League East. But Finnegan insists he’s less engaged with the process this time around.

“I definitely care way less and have been following it way less after three, four years of it,” he said. “If it happens, it happens. I’m happy here. Obviously, as players, you want to play in the postseason. I’m just really not thinking about it. I’m way more concerned with what I’m trying to do out on the field. I’m here until I’m not.”

Does Finnegan understand the irony of that sentiment, that he stressed more about getting traded in the years when he was less likely to be traded?

“The chatter’s always been out there, but I understand how the game works. And this year is probably the most likely scenario,” he said. “But at the same time, I feel like the team’s not going to get rid of guys just to get rid of them. They have to feel like they get a fair deal coming back. As likely as it is, I won’t believe it until it happens.”

Interim general manager Mike DeBartolo has 48 hours to make the decision. His predecessor, Mike Rizzo, never found a trade offer he deemed good enough to part ways with Finnegan, who ranks second in club history with 108 saves and remained under club control through the 2025 season.

Common sense suggests the offers won’t be as good this time around, if only because the acquiring club would only have Finnegan for two months. But the fact he is about to reach free agency, with reason to believe the Nationals aren’t looking to re-sign him this winter, gives DeBartolo little reason to retain him and risk getting nothing in return this winter.

Ultimately, the asking price for Finnegan is based on his performance. And his recent struggles certainly didn’t help matters. Owner of a 2.36 ERA as recently as July 10, he saw that number balloon to 4.62 after he was scored upon in three of five appearances around the All-Star break. That included a meltdown against the Padres in which he gave up five runs while recording only one out.

Finnegan has looked much better in two appearances since that low point. He closed out the Nats’ 7-2 win over the Twins on Sunday, retiring three of the four batters he faced. And he gave the Astros no reason to think they were going to rally Monday night, retiring the side on 10 pitches to preserve a 2-1 victory.

The results have been encouraging, but Finnegan is even more encouraged by the way he’s felt in recent days.

“After the Padres blowup, I really feel like I’ve been throwing the ball the best I have all season,” he said. “I started making a point to throw my slider a little bit more. I’ve been striking more guys out and getting way softer contact. I think I’m onto something. And to go out there and see the success and all the work I’ve been putting in … it’s a small sample, it’s only four or five games. But those innings have been better than I think I’ve thrown all year.

“Even when I was statistically throwing really well (earlier in the year), it still felt like I was kind of searching. I was getting outs, but it didn’t feel dominant. These last few outings, I’ve felt really, really good about the way I’ve been throwing.”

As much as he’s tried to focus on his job lately, Finnegan can’t help but be surrounded by distractions. And it’s not just the trade deadline. This week’s series just so happens to be taking place in his hometown; he grew up in nearby Kingwood, Texas. That means a large group of family members and friends in attendance, and plenty of things to keep his mind occupied beyond baseball.

Does that help make this trade deadline any easier to deal with, or does it actually make it harder?

“There’s definitely more to deal with,” he said with a laugh. “But I feel like that’s something I struggled with early in my career, and now you understand they’re all grownups and can find their way to the stadium and get in fine. It hasn’t been that bad. I guess I was a little worried I’d get moved before I got to come here. But now that I’m here, I’m just feeling grateful that I have a job.

“Whatever happens, happens.”