The Nationals are expected to recall John Lannan from Triple-A Syracuse to start in Saturday's doubleheader against the Braves.

Lannan, who is earning a $5 million salary this season, has a 4.60 ERA through 17 starts at the Triple-A level. He can be avoided in most fantasy leagues.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Rockies and Dodgers have both had recent trade discussions with the Nationals regarding John Lannan.

Rosenthal says the Rockies merely "kicked the tires" on Lannan but were turned off by the price, while talks between the Dodgers and Nationals have been only preliminary to this point. It's no surprise that the Rockies felt the Nats wanted too much if they're wanting the team acquiring Lannan to pay all of his salary and part with at least one legitimate player, as Rosenthal reports. Lannan, who is owed approximately $3.5 million more this season, has not helped his trade value with a 5.63 in 10 Triple-A starts this season.

Buster Olney of ESPN.com reports that the Nationals are "actively seeking a veteran relief pitcher" and are dangling John Lannan as trade bait.

We can't imagine there's a huge market for a guy that's put up a 6.12 ERA at Triple-A and is making $5 million. But, perhaps someone desperate for rotation help will consider it. If they do, they'll surely want the Nats to pick up some of Lannan's salary. The Nats are looking for some stability in the bullpen with Drew Storen and Brad Lidge still out and Henry Rodriguez struggling.

The Nationals continue to try to trade John Lannan and Chien-Ming Wang, according to Danny Knobler of CBS Sports.

Lannan is almost un-tradeable at this point, unless Washington were to eat all of his $5 million salary and ask for almost nothing in return. Lannan has a 6.10 ERA in six starts for Triple-A Syracuse. Wang is making $4 million and allowed only two runs over seven innings for Syracuse on Wednesday. Washington has had baseball's best rotation to this point with a 2.26 ERA, so Lannan and Wang have almost no chance of cracking it barring injuries.

John Lannan is 2-2 with a 5.19 ERA at Triple-A Syracuse.

With the Nationals off to an 18-9 start, Lannan has been all but forgotten. He requested a trade from the Nationals last month when he was demoted and it appears that Washington made a mistake by not taking the best offer that was out there at the time. Lannan, making $5 million as organization depth, is killing whatever market value he once had with his poor minor-league performances. Perhaps a pitching starved team will eventually take a chance on the 27-year-old left-hander if the Nationals eat most of the money owed to him. It's doubtful they'd get much in return.

John Lannan has a 6.53 ERA in four starts at Triple-A.

Lannan requested a trade from the Nationals last month when he was demoted to Triple-A Syracuse, but he's owed $5 million this season and is killing whatever market value he once had with his poor minor-league performances. The 27-year-old left-hander will continue to serve as nothing more than organizational depth.

John Lannan struggled in his second start for Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday, allowing eight runs (four earned) on nine hits in just four innings of work.

Lannan has now struggled in each of his first two starts at Triple-A, and may be having issues with his focus and motivation after being demoted last week in favor of Ross Detwiler. If the Nationals are trying to find a trade partner for him, he's hurting his stock with each poor appearance.

According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, the Nationals are not actively shopping John Lannan and have not talked to the Cubs about a potential deal involving Marlon Byrd.

The Nats appear to be content waiting for Bryce Harper's arrival rather than trying to upgrade their outfield through a trade. Sullivan also points out that the Cubs aren't interested in acquiring Lannan and his $5MM salary.

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Cubs have "inquired again" about Nationals lefty John Lannan.

Lannan requested a trade following his demotion to Triple-A, and although the Nats say they're not dealing him, they'll surely consider it if it makes sense. Wittenmyer adds that former Cub Tom Gorzelanny's name has been involved in the talks, and Marlon Byrd has come up, as well. Byrd, in particular, would be a perfect fit, giving the Nats a solid bridge in center field until Bryce Harper is ready. He's slated to make $6.5 million this season, while Lannan will pull in $5 million. Any deal would likely result in the Nats picking up most of both contracts.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson said Thursday that the Nationals are "not trading" John Lannan.

Lannan formally requested to be dealt on Wednesday night, one day after being demoted to Triple-A Syrcause. But the Nationals feel he's an important piece of their 40-man roster (and probably don't want to eat any of the $5 million salary he's owed in 2012). "We're not trading him," Johnson said. "We're keeping him."

Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said Thursday that interest in John Lannan has only been "mild."

It's not a surprise. Lannan posted a nice-looking 3.70 ERA in 184 2/3 innings last year, but behind that was a troublesome 1.46 WHIP and 106/76 K/BB ratio. He's owed $5 million in 2012, and the Nationals probably aren't too enthusiastic about eating part (or most) of that salary to accommodate the left-hander's trade request.

John Lannan has formally requested a trade.

Lannan is unhappy about being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse for the start of the regular season. He emailed the media on Wednesday night, stating that "a trade would be the best solution for everyone in both the short and long term." His $5 million salary for 2012 is going to make that quite difficult, but he did post a solid 3.70 ERA in over 180 innings last season.

Nationals optioned LHP John Lannan to Triple-A Syrcause.

Though he's making $5 million this season, Lannan has clearly fallen out of favor with the organization. Perhaps they will continue to explore trade options, but in the meantime he will serve as nothing more than organizational depth. Ross Detwiler will take the fifth spot in the Nationals rotation.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson confirmed Monday that John Lannan will be the team's fifth starter.

Lannan was shopped around throughout spring training, but the Nats are probably glad they held onto him with Chien-Ming Wang slated to miss the first month of the season with a hamstring strain. Lannan posted a 3.70 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 106/76 K/BB ratio in 184 2/3 innings last year. He may carry some NL-only fantasy value.

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports that the Tigers are "continuing to show interest" in John Lannan.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal had a similar report earlier this week, also linking the Red Sox to Lannan. The 27-year-old left-hander registered a decent 3.70 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 106/76 K/BB ratio in 184 2/3 innings last season for the Nationals and would make a fine addition to the back end of the Detroit rotation. He's owed $5 million in 2012.

John Lannan shut out the Braves for four innings in a no-decision Wednesday.

Lannan might have given up a couple of homers if not for the wind blowing in from right field, but he'll take it. He had allowed seven runs through nine innings this spring.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Tigers and Red Sox are still "most serious on John Lannan."

Nationals GM Mike Rizzo told Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post last week that he's not actively shopping Lannan, but admitted that he had fielded "several calls" about the left-hander this spring. Rizzo will probably want to move Lannan's entire $5 million salary for 2012, which could be a stumbling block. But there's still time for Detroit or Boston to turn desperate.

John Lannan gave up six runs -- four earned -- and seven hits in four innings of relief Thursday against the Yankees.

Chien-Ming Wang's injury can't be blamed; Lannan entered the game to start the fifth inning, which was the plan going into the day. Because of Wang's hamstring injury, Lannan now seems more likely to stick around with the Nats and begin the season in the rotation. Still, it's not as though Wang's status will force the Nats to keep Lannan; they still have Ross Detwiler in reserve.

Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports that the Red Sox, Tigers, Astros are among the teams watching Nationals' left-hander John Lannan.

The Nationals plan to have Chien-Ming Wang occupy the final spot in the starting rotation this season, so Lannan is suddenly expendable. Knobler writes that the Mets and Padres also had interest at one point, but they each backed due to his $5 million salary for 2012.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says the Nationals have "spread the word" that John Lannan is available via trade.

No surprise there, as Lannan is schedule to make $5 million in 2012 but isn't projected as part of the Nats rotation. Cafardo says the Nationals would love to obtain a center fielder in exchange for the left-hander, but we can't imagine anyone would be willing to give up much for him.