Manager Manny Acta hinted before Thursday's game against the Phillies that changes were coming. He announced that younger players such as Kory Casto would play more often.
The Nationals tried their best to trade Lopez, Lo Duca and Estrada before Thursday's 4 p.m. ET Trade Deadline, but there weren't any takers because they were having subpar seasons. The Nationals will pay over $11 million to the trio this season.
"We are going to turn the page. We are going to get younger the last two months of the season and we are going to continue to develop young players," general manager Jim Bowden said. "We want players that are going to hustle, play the game hard and play the game right. We just feel we need to give younger players an opportunity. We are going to do that."