Nats deal Rosario to Yankees for prospects Beeter, Martinez

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Nationals made their first move less than a week before the Trade Deadline by acquiring right-hander Clayton Beeter and outfielder Browm Martinez from the Yankees in exchange for veteran utility infielder Amed Rosario on Saturday night.

Rosario was on a one-year, $2 million contract with the Nationals, and he was a top trade target given his proven experience and expiring deal.

“When I heard where I was going, I kind of didn’t believe it,” Rosario said via interpreter Mauricio Ortiz, adding, “At some point I kind of knew I was going to get traded, but I didn’t know it was going to be today.”

This was the first trade completed by Nationals interim general manager Mike DeBartolo, who stepped into the role last month. Beeter was optioned to Triple-A Rochester.

TRADE DETAILS
Nationals receive: RHP Clayton Beeter (Yankees No. 20 prospect), OF Browm Martinez
Yankees receive: INF Amed Rosario

Pitching in his first full season as a reliever, the 26-year-old Beeter is 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in 18 appearances (20 1/3 innings) in Triple-A. He is 0-1 with a 9.82 ERA in five Major League appearances.

Beeter enters the Nationals' top 30 rankings at No. 20. MLB Pipeline’s Sam Dykstra wrote of Beeter:

In his role over shorter bursts, Beeter sits 94-97 mph, touching 99, with impressive carry on the four-seam fastball. He also overpowers hitters with an upper-80s slider with downer break that plays very well off the shape of his heater. (It had a 48.9 percent whiff rate at Triple-A at the time of the trade.) He can flash a plus 78-82 mph curveball and has a mid-80s changeup with some fade, but he has mostly scrapped both pitches.

Beeter’s move to the bullpen made sense considering his two reliable pitches and below-average control and command. He operates with a high three-quarters delivery that includes a deep plunge in the back, which helps him stay on top of his slider but compromises his ability to land pitches in the zone. If he can find a way to provide more strikes, he could fill a high-leverage role in the nation’s capital.

Martinez, 18, is playing in the Dominican Summer League. In his second season since signing as an international free agent in 2024, he is batting .404 with four doubles, three home runs, 16 RBIs, six walks, 13 stolen bases and 21 runs in 18 games with the DSL Yankees. In 69 plate appearances, he struck out only eight times (11.6 percent).

Rosario, 29, made a valuable impact on the Nationals when he signed in January. He was a go-to for his younger teammates, often seen showing them game film or chatting with them in the clubhouse before games.

“He’s a professional baseball player, a professional big leaguer,” said Nationals interim manager Miguel Cairo. “The Yankees are going to get a guy that can hit lefties, for sure. The way he handles himself, the way he goes about his business, he’s a pro. We’re going to miss him. It’s a great opportunity for him to go help a team in the [playoff chase], and they’re getting a really good hitter.”

Rosario had been traded from the Mets to Cleveland in 2021, from the Guardians to the Dodgers in ‘23, and from the Rays back to the Dodgers in ‘24. He signed with Washington as a free agent and slashed .270/.310/.426 with eight doubles, 18 RBIs and five home runs in 46 games.

“I feel great because whenever teams are in playoff contention, they always acquire me towards the end,” said Rosario. “So I just feel really good about that.”

Other potential trade targets on expiring deals like Rosario include designated hitter Josh Bell, infielder Paul DeJong, right-hander Michael Soroka and right-hander Kyle Finnegan. The 2025 MLB Trade Deadline is 6 p.m. ET on Thursday.