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Law: Nationals, A's reap benefits in bullpen-boosting deal

Ryan Madson's strike-throwing skills should provide bullpen relief for the Nationals. Billy Hurst/AP Photo

The Washington Nationals addressed their bullpen issues in one move without trading any of their top three prospects (Victor Robles, Juan Soto and Carter Kieboom). It's hard for them to do much better than this, even if they did give up a very promising teenaged arm and former high draft pick in Jesus Luzardo. The Oakland Athletics did reasonably well too, both in acquiring a pair of useful prospects and in clearing money for 2018 that would be better spent elsewhere than the bullpen.