Nats trade 2B Murphy to Cubs; ship 1B Adams to Cards

The Washington Nationals on Tuesday began the sell-off that they opted not to do ahead of the trade deadline, sending second baseman Daniel Murphy to the Chicago Cubs and first baseman Matt Adams to the St. Louis Cardinals in separate waiver deals.

The Nationals received infielder Andruw Monasterio and a player to be named later or cash considerations from the Cubs for Murphy. Adams was sent to the Cardinals in exchange for cash considerations.

Murphy was owed $17.5 million this season on his expiring three-year, $37.5 million contract. Meanwhile, Adams is playing on a one-year, $4 million deal.

Star outfielder Bryce Harper was also claimed on revocable waivers, but he will stay put, according to a report from Jon Heyman of Fancred. A report from 106.7 The Fan had the Los Angeles Dodgers as the team that claimed Harper.

The Nationals enter Tuesday below .500 at 62-63. They are 7 1/2 games back in the National League East and 6 1/2 games out from the second NL wild card.

Murphy, 33, is hitting .300 with six home runs and 29 RBIs in 56 games this season. The 2016 NL MVP runner-up has spent the majority of the year on the disabled list recovering from right knee surgery underwent at the conclusion of last season.

Murphy has hit .324 this month and .347 in July after posting a .200 average in 15 June games following his activation from the DL. The three-time All-Star hit .329 with 54 homers and 226 RBIs in three seasons with the Nationals after beginning his career with the New York Mets.

He has played first and second base this season, where Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez, respectively, are entrenched in Chicago.

Adams heads back to the Cardinals after a six-year stint in St. Louis to begin his career. The soon-to-be 30-year-old slugger is hitting .257 with 18 homers and 48 RBIs this season.

Adams hit .271 with 56 homers and 217 RBIs during his first stint with the Cardinals, who have MVP candidate Matt Carpenter at first base. Adams has also played left field this season, where Marcell Ozuna is in the lineup every day for St. Louis.

Monasterio, 21, has primarily played second base for the Cubs' high Class-A affiliate this season. He hit .263 with three homers, 31 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 109 games at Myrtle Beach.

--Field Level Media