According to multiple major league sources, the Boston Red Sox are prepared to make a move to trade for Washington Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann. The Nationals have been talking to many teams for weeks about a possible trade for the 28-year-old impending free agent.

Zimmermann is considered as one of the best right-handed starters in all of baseball. Arguably the best right-handed starter, is now his new teammate in the Nation’s Capital, at least for now. The Nats recently made the move to sign Max Scherzer to a lucrative 7-year, $210 million deal. While this may signal they are in a win-now approach, they have six great starting pitching options and one is likely to be dealt.

Jordan Zimmermann is the most likely candidate as he will command a contract very similar to that of Scherzer, and it is unlikely that Washington can afford to pay both Scherzer with Zimmermann, not to mention young starter Stephen Strasburg as well as the rest of their team. Zimmermann, even for one-year, would bring a very strong return.

That’s where the Red Sox come in. They re-stacked their lineup and as it is currently constructed, they are amongst the top in baseball. They have been “in” on many front-end rotation options, but haven’t been able to land one after losing Jon Lester to the Windy City.

From what I have heard, Red Sox execs really like Jordan Zimmermann and have been waiting all off-season for the chance to land him as their new Ace. Boston has prepared a strong trade proposal for the Nationals that they feel would be worthy of Zimmermann. He ended his 2014 campaign with a no-hitter in the regular season and 8 2/3 shutout postseason innings before being pulled. Zimmermann finished with a 14-5 record with a staggering 2.66 ERA and 182 punch outs. Zimmermann has a career 57-40 record with a 3.24 ERA and 739 K’s.

Some of the players mentioned have been: 1B/OF Allen Craig, SP Joe Kelly, 3B prospect Garin Cecchini, SP Matt Barnes, OF Jackie Bradley Jr. and several others. Craig is coming off a disappointing ’14, but has shown in the past the ability to drive in runs and hit, not to mention he is in team control through 2018. Joe Kelly has shown great potential and is a major-league ready starter. Garin Cecchini and Matt Barnes are two of the top Red Sox prospects who have had limited major league experience, but their potential is limitless. As for Jackie Bradley Jr., he struggled from the plate, but patrols center field unlike anyone else.

The Nationals have come out and said they are not looking to move Zimmermann, but they are still discussing trade possibilities with several teams, the leader of the pack being Boston. The Red Sox would also like to hammer out an extension, but it’s unclear whether the Nats would grant them a negotiation period prior to the trade being finalized if a deal can be agreed upon.

For now, we wait and see how everything unfolds, but the Red Sox are prepared to make a strong push for Jordan Zimmermann and that process is already underway.