The Washington Nationals have managed to hang around the National League Wild Card race. They perhaps wisely chose not to trade young players for veterans in advance of the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline, knowing their future is brighter than their present. MORE: Blue Jays pitcher undergoes surgery, possibly ending his seasonMikolas, 37, is a two-time All-Star who is struggling to reach the finish line of his 11th MLB season. MORE: Angels suddenly fire three coaches amid dismal pitching seasonGiven Mikolas' performance this season, his exit raises the possibility that he's thrown his final pitch in MLB for any team — not merely the Nationals. With the Rochester Red Wings, the Nationals' top farm team, Kent was 8-3 with a 4.38 ERA in 13 starts.