With just one day left before the deadline to sign players from this year's Draft, the Washington Nationals announced the signing of left-handed pitcher Josh Smoker on Tuesday, the 31st overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft. Smoker, who's rated the 11th-best pitching prospect by Baseball America, was a top priority for the Nats.

I look forward to hearing radio announcers Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler come up with some good puns with Smoker's name in them. But more than that, I'm looking forward to the day when the Nationals have a killer lefty on staff. Could it be Smoker?

The news of Belliard's extension prompted Dmitri Young to publicly assert that he too would like to remain with the Nationals. I've liked Dmitri Young for some time now, and he's been an undeniable powerhouse for the Nats this season. However, I do think he should be traded. He's got value NOW and could net some prospects from teams looking to make it to the post-season this year. I've said it before and I'll say it again: don't ask for the moon Jim!

Nook, who was DFA'd last week by the Tigers, is not known as a power slugger (he hit just .185 at AAA Toledo, and just .247 after a demotion to Double-A Erie) but he his hailed for his lightening speed and quality defense. After all the field blunders made by the Nats this week, this deal sounds like a winner.

Could this also be a sign that Soriano will be on his way? Frankly, why Bowden didn't trade him before the deadline is beyond me. The only option now is to sign him (at huge dollars) and make him the face of the organization. Not a bad idea. The team could let him walk, but then Bowden will face some intense criticism for not working out a trade in July and getting some young talent back in return. Anyway, I don't see why we can't have Soriano, Lopez and Nook speeding up the line-up. We've needed CF speed and defense all season long, so I'm really looking forward to Nook the Nat!

In exchange, the Nationals acquired Luis Atilano, a 21-year old RHP who is rehabbing from ligament-replacement surgery. In 19 appearances with Class A Myrtle Beach this year, Atilano was 6-7 with a 4.50 ERA.

In other waiver wire news, the Twins acquired Phil Nevin, who seems to have moved a good numbers of times in the past 12 months! Nevin sounds like a good match for the Twins who are in dire need for help at DH. 

In order to make room for Robert Fick who returned from the DL, the Nationals released Damian Jackson on Friday. I have to say that I was surprised by Jackson's lack of performance this year. I wasn't very familiar with Jackson until near the end of last season when he saw playing time with the Padres, but he seemed athletic and effective on the field and at the plate in the games I listened to. Robinson favourite Henry Mateo and Bernie Castro have been tearing it up in the minors and will take over as the Nationals' utility bench men.

Just a short six weeks ago, the newly acquired Luis Matos was tapped to become the Nationals dependable backup outfielder. Now, he might be trade bait. Matos has cleared waivers, so the Nationals will try to trade him before the Thursday waiver deadline.

Reports published yesterday indicate that Alfonso Soriano could be headed to the White Sox in a deal that's rumored to include pitcher Brandon McCarthy and LF Scott Podsednik. However, Nationals GM Jim Bowden wouldn't offer any juice about the rumor, and White Sox GM Kenny Williams claimed that trading McCarthy is not an option. Is Williams serious about Soriano, or is this a ploy to try and keep him from becoming a Tiger? Can Bowden get everything he wants when Soriano is considered strictly a 10-week rental by all but one of the teams currently bidding on him?

Meanwhile, a Jays/Rays swap for Julio Lugo is still a distinct possibility. It's unclear if Lugo's injury to his finger will impact his trade value.

Matt LeCroy was DFA'd last Monday, but after not hearing any interest from clubs to acquire the backup catcher, the Nationals released LeCroy on Friday. LeCroy, 30, batted .239 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 39 games in his lone season with the Nationals.

• Marlon Anderson, INF
• Tony Armas Jr., RHP
• Jose Guillen, RF
• Livan Hernandez, RHP
• Alfonso Soriano, LF
• Jose Vidro, 2B
• Daryle Ward, 1B/OF

Breaking it down: Bowden's been after Kearns all year. Of concern is Kearns' injury-riddled past. He'll start at CF tonight at PNC Park, but will likely be moved to RF after Guillen is traded. The Nats will continue to seek out a CF candidate.

Lopez's defense is in question, but he's shown good power at the plate and has exceptional speed on the bases. Soriano and Lopez could combine for a potent double steal threat. I know nothing about Wagner.

Majewsky had been a fairly reliable reliever, making up a strong part of the 2005 bullpen. Pitching is a problem area for the Nats but they knew they were going to have to make sacrifices to acquire players like Kearns and Lopez.

Similarly, Bill Bray has been touted as a potentially great pitcher but he has yet to live up to the hype. Of course, now we're hoping he doesn't!

Some feel Brendan Harris could become a ML star, but I'm not convinced he'll transform into anything more than a bench player.

Royce Clayton handled himself with class in his short time as a National, but veterans simply don't play a part in the Nationals plans for the future. I think we'll be better off with Lopez.

Luis Matos has had a season or two of brilliance, but like Kearns he is prone to injury. It appears he'll play a little CF off the bench. Matos was mentioned in Nationals trade rumors back in March so it looks like Bowden got his man.

As for the guys on the block, trade 'em all except Ward, and maybe keep Soriano around? I'm starting to think that building around Soriano might be a good move. It really depends on what he can fetch in the trade market. It's no longer a matter of unloading him; it's about getting enough value in return. Bowden remarked that the Nats match up well in trades with at least 11 clubs, including the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels and Blue Jays. We know the Nats covet Lastings Milledge and Mike Pelfrey of the Mets, Philip Hughes of the Yankees, Elijah Dukes of the Rays and Howie Kendrick of the Angels. The Rays Delmon Young might be easier to acquire than Dukes who has played a little better than Young this season. I've heard that Kendrick isn't going anywhere, even for Soriano. I'm not sure what the Toronto trade potential refers to, maybe the Jays want Soriano?

Last month, Ken Rosanthal presented a good case for the Rays to deal one or two of their starting outfielders to make room for minor league stars Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes. He predicted that Gathright would be the least likely to be dealt, and now that Gathright's a Royal, have the Rays changed their outlook on moving Crawford? Rosenthal goes on to discuss Alfonso Soriano, another left fielder who will most likely to be dealt sometime in July. I wonder if the Nationals are scouting Crawford this weekend…

Back to Renck's piece for an aside: The Rockies are reportedly interested in the Nationals' Ramon Ortiz.