I'm sure Klentak tried to trade him, but the market for guys at the end of your 40 man roster is thin, look what they didn't get for Sev, who was a similar situation (some ML experience, some upside, but not enough to have real value).
Goeddel had two solid seasons at A+ and AA, but nothing that jumps out at you and says great prospect.
Don't care where he was drafted, four years later that becomes irrelevant, just look at all those Philies 1st rd picks after 4 years@!
Pullin last year hit much better than Goeddel did in 2016 at the same age.
While I'm not excited about Nava making the roster, what was the alternative?
I'm not retarding Valentin's development just to keep Goeddel, Valentin has more upside, either as a utility man or trade bait.
And there was no one else on the 40 man roster that made sense.
So it was Nava or some other veteran. Coughlan and the veteran catchers. Nava outperformed them, so he earned the job.
As far as Goeddel v Garcia for the last 40 man spot, Garcia has great stuff, if he masters the splitter, it doesn't matter that he's 30, he could be a bullpen fixture for 2-3 years.