Is the time finally right for Sox to trade Robertson to Nationals?

Dusty Baker keeps complaining, much to the delight of the Chicago White Sox.

Baker is the Nationals' manager, and Washington is far and away the best team in the National League East.

Even with Adam Eaton out for the season, the Nats entered Saturday ranked third in the majors in runs scored, and their starting rotation had the fifth lowest ERA in baseball.

There's a lot to like about the team in the nation's capital, except when it comes to the back end of the bullpen.

"I honestly feel like a bona fide closer would put everybody in a position where they should be," Baker told Washington beat reporters late last week. "This is a situation we already discussed. I told you back in March that the (closer) by committee don't really work."

Baker has already used six different closers, and the results have been disastrous. In 30 opportunities, Nationals relievers have blown 11 saves.

"We just got to put everybody into place, but that's a tough situation right now because a lot of teams feel they're still in it and nobody's going to give up nothing right now," Baker said. "And you're not going to just go get somebody to go get somebody if you're not really improving the quality above of what you have now."

Enter David Robertson.

With last weeks's amateur draft in the books, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said he expects trade talks to heat up in advance of the July 31 nonwaiver deadline.

"I think over the next few weeks you're going to see more trade activity," Hahn said. "I expect it to be fairly rampant here over the next several weeks, throughout the game, not necessarily just here. We're certainly looking forward to continuing to engage with clubs and see where that leads."

Robertson is not in the same class as Aroldis Chapman, who cost the Cubs a bundle of young talent in a trade with the Yankees last July.

But the White Sox's right-hander is an established closer, and he's converted 11 of his first 12 save tries this season after going 37-for-44 last year, 34-for-41 in 2015 and 39-for-44 in 2014, when he was with the Yankees.

The Sox and Nationals have reportedly been talking about a Robertson trade for months, but it's getting close to go time.

Owed roughly $19 million through next season, Robertson's contract was rumored to be a sticking point in earlier trade talks between the Sox and Nats.

Would the White Sox be willing to pick up some of the closer's salary to complete a deal?

That seems very possible, but it would also likely mean the Nationals would have to part with prized outfield prospect Victor Robles.

If Washington insists on keeping Robles, maybe the Sox could trade Robertson for a package that includes Juan Soto, another talented young outfielder, and shortstop Carter Kieboom or catcher Pedro Severino.

Hahn and Nationals GM Mike Rizzo worked together in a December trade that sent Eaton to Washington for starting pitchers Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning.

Rizzo was widely criticized for getting fleeced in the deal, but Eaton posted a solid .297/.393/.462 slash line in 23 games before blowing his left knee out running to first base in an April 28 game against the Mets.

Hahn also got a nice haul from the Red Sox in the Chris Sale trade. He was asked if opposing GMs might now be wary of dealing with the White Sox.

"I've seen that theory written," Hahn said. "I don't think that's accurate within the other 29 front offices for a couple reasons. One, I think everyone understands within the game the high quality of players that we gave up in those trades, so they certainly understand the fact that we got what is viewed as a decent return for them. It's only appropriate when you're moving players as talented as Chris Sale and Adam Eaton.

"Secondly, in the end every team is looking to improve themselves, so they're not going to shy away from any opportunity to make themselves better at the big-league level. If the other club is looking to make a run in the postseason, they're going to do what they can to get there and not worry about any perception that perhaps things could wind up unevenly if they do go down that path. It certainly hasn't been my experience in terms of the interactions we've had with any clubs and I don't think it's a real factor."