Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles link up for their first ever trade

The Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles completed their first-ever trade on July 2, 2026, with Nationals GM Paul Toboni acquiring pitcher Kyle Nicolas, who had recently been designated for assignment, in exchange for minor league infielder Randal Diaz. The deal was arranged with Orioles GM Mike Elias. Beyond its minor on-field impact, the trade marks a historic milestone as it signals a thawing of tensions between the two Washington-area rivals, who had long maintained a strained relationship largely due to the contentious MASN broadcasting rights dispute.