The Nationals may be sitting at .500, but that hasn’t kept the trade chatter from circling one of their most valuable chips. If Washington decides it’s not buying for a crowded National League wild-card race, shortstop CJ Abrams could become one of the biggest names available before the deadline.
That possibility is very real because Abrams and the Nationals still don’t have a long-term extension in place. He remains under team control through two more arbitration years before free agency, but MLB insider Mark Feinsand reported there’s a real chance he gets moved if no new deal comes together.
Washington still views Abrams as an important piece, yet the fit at shortstop looks shaky long term. His defensive numbers are among the worst in baseball, with -11 outs above average, which ranks 255th out of 257 qualified position players, according to Statcast.
And with top prospect Eli Willits expected to take over at shortstop in the next few years, the Nationals could decide now is the time to cash in on Abrams while his value is at its peak.
If he does hit the market, the demand should be strong. Washington needs pitching and would likely want upper-minors arms in return, the kind of pieces that can help a club that believes it’s close to contending. Using Baseball Trade Values as a guide, here are three realistic packages that could get a deal done.
One possible fit is the Yankees, who would receive Abrams while sending Carlos Lagrange, Elmer Rodriguez and Spencer Jones to Washington. Abrams is controllable through the 2028 season, and New York could see him as a way to add one of the league’s best young bats to an offense that has sputtered without the injured Aaron Judge.
If the Yankees want to keep Anthony Volpe at shortstop, Abrams could slide into DH duties or move around the infield, with third base another obvious area to explore. His defense makes a position change feel inevitable somewhere along the line, whether that’s in New York or elsewhere.
The Yankees also have George Lombard waiting as a future shortstop option, though it’s unlikely they would part with a consensus top-10 prospect. For Washington, Rodriguez and Lagrange would bring two Triple A arms ranked Nos. 3 and 4 in the Yankees’ system, while Jones would add another power bat as New York’s No. 6 prospect.
Abrams would also fit the Bronx lineup well, especially with the short porch in right field. He’s a left-handed pull hitter, and all 22 of his home runs this season have gone to right field or right-center field.
The Cardinals could also make a serious run at Abrams, sending Liam Doyle, Joshua Báez and Yhoiker Fajardo back to Washington. St.
Louis would be making a clear statement about competing this season by adding another dangerous bat. Abrams could move to third base or serve as the DH, which would let the Cardinals keep Masyn Winn at shortstop and his defense intact.
He also isn’t a rental, which makes him a cleaner timeline match for a team still building after being big sellers last year. This deal would let St.
Louis hold onto its No. 1 prospect, 19-year-old catcher Rainiel Rodriguez, who is MLB Pipeline’s No. 12 prospect. Doyle and Báez would headline the return for Washington.
Doyle, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 draft, is MLB Pipeline’s No. 22 prospect, while Báez is No. 46 and brings power along with a strong arm. Fajardo would round things out as St.
Louis’s No. 11 prospect, and the 19-year-old has a mean slider and a 3.93 ERA at Advanced A ball.
Boston is another team that could jump in. The Red Sox’s 14-game winning streak pushed them back into the postseason picture, and that kind of surge can make a front office more aggressive at the deadline.
Trevor Story’s 2025 bounce-back didn’t last, and he had a rough first half of the ’26 season before landing on the 60-day IL. Shortstop is a problem area, even with Franklin Arias climbing through the minors, though the 20-year-old probably won’t reach the majors for another year or two.
Abrams would give Boston an immediate lift and could later shift to another defensive spot by the time Arias is ready. In this scenario, Washington would land Connelly Early and Enddy Azocar.
Early, 24, has 21 MLB starts and has been strong this season with a 3.44 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings across 17 starts. Azocar would add another intriguing outfield prospect, and the 19-year-old has shown a mix of power and speed, posting an .801 OPS with 13 home runs, 48 RBIs and 11 stolen bases in 75 games between Single A and Advanced A.
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