The Washington Nationals began what could be an eventful run-up to the July 31 trade deadline with an eight-player deal on Thursday, acquiring outfielder Austin Kearns, shortstop Felipe Lopez and right-hander Ryan Wagner from the Reds in exchange for relievers Gary Majewski, Bill Bray and Daryl Thompson, infielder Brendan Harris and shortstop Royce Clayton.

Kearns, Lopez and Wagner are players who were either drafted or acquired in a trade by Nationals general manager Jim Bowden when he was with the Reds. Kearns and Lopez are expected to join the club on Friday at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, while Wagner will be optioned to Triple-A New Orleans of the Pacific Coast League.

Kearns, 26, was hitting .274 (89-for-325) with 21 doubles, 16 home runs and 50 RBIs in 87 games for Cincinnati.

The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Kearns was the Reds' top selection (seventh overall) in the 1998 First-Year Player Draft. In 2002, Kearns hit .315 with 24 doubles, 13 home runs and 56 RBIs in 107 games for the Reds and finished third in National League Rookie of the Year balloting.

The Nationals play the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on August 25, 26, and 27,

Lopez, 26, was batting .268 with 14 doubles, nine home runs, 30 RBI and a career-high 23 stolen bases in 85 games for the Reds this season. Lopez is currently on pace to establish career highs in walks, stolen bases and runs scored. Currently tied for fourth in the NL in stolen bases, Lopez's 47 walks pace all NL shortstops, and his nine home runs are tied for second among NL shortstops, behind only San Diego's Khalil Greene (12).

Wagner, 23, was Cincinnati's first-round selection (14th overall) in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. The University of Houston alumnus later became the first player from the 2003 draft to appear in the big leagues (edging current Nationals closer Chad Cordero for that distinction), and became the first top pick in Reds history to make his big-league debut during the season in which he was drafted.

With an open roster spot following the trade, the Nationals are expected to purchase the contract of right-hander Roy Corcoran from New Orleans. Corcoran, 26, is currently 2-3 with seven saves and a 2.45 ERA in 16 PCL contests this season. He has posted a batting average against of .169 and fanned 11.8 batters per nine innings since being promoted from Double-A Harrisburg in early June.
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Adapted from article on the Major League Baseball website.

Chris Denorfia, seen here hitting for Chattanooga in 2004, should see increased playing time for the Reds. Click to enlarge photo.
- Photo2 by Tim Evearitt (file photo)