"The trade deadline this year passed without the Nationals landing the center fielder they desired, and they of course have still not landed that center fielder. As that has remained static, so, too has Mike Rizzo's interest in Rays outfielder B.J. Upton, the 27-year-old who played youth baseball with Ryan Zimmerman and is due a significant raise in arbitration.

The Rays and Nationals talked back in July about a possible swap involving Upton, with shortstop Ian Desmond believed to be among the names the Rays wanted. Rizzo didn't get specific today, but he indicated the status of the Upton talks with the Rays and GM Andrew Friedman has stayed the same. "