The Nationals are sitting right on the edge of the deadline conversation. At .500, they’re not buried in the National League wild-card race, but they also can’t afford to coast through the second half if they want any real shot at staying in it.
That puts Washington in a tricky spot. If the club doesn’t go shopping for help, it could become one of the more interesting sellers on the market. And if the Nationals decide to listen on shortstop CJ Abrams, they’d be dealing one of the most talked-about names available.
Abrams still hasn’t reached a long-term extension with Washington. He remains under team control through two more years of arbitration before free agency, but the absence of a new deal has left the door open for a trade. MLB insider Mark Feinsand reported that there’s a real possibility Abrams gets dealt barring a new deal coming to fruition.
The Nationals still view Abrams as an important part of what they’re building, but he’s not necessarily locked in as their shortstop of the future. His defense has been a major issue, with -11 outs above average, which ranks 255th out of 257 qualified position players, per Statcast. With top prospect Eli Willits expected to take over at shortstop in the next few years, Washington could decide the time is right to cash in on Abrams while his value is as high as it’s ever been.
If he’s available, there won’t be a shortage of teams calling. Washington needs pitching badly, and any return would likely need to include upper-minors arms that are close to helping right away. Using Baseball Trade Values, three realistic packages stand out.
For the Yankees, Abrams would be a fit if they want another impact bat and are willing to move him around defensively. New York would receive SS CJ Abrams, while Washington would get RHP Carlos Lagrange, RHP Elmer Rodriguez, and OF Spencer Jones.
Abrams is controllable through the 2028 season, and he could give the Yankees one of the league’s best young bats while Aaron Judge is injured and the offense has sputtered. If Anthony Volpe keeps getting run at shortstop, Abrams could land at DH or elsewhere in the infield, with third base also a possibility.
The Yankees also have George Lombard coming up, but they’re unlikely to part with a consensus top-10 prospect, which is why the return here focuses on other minor leaguers. Abrams’ bat would play in the Bronx, especially with his left-handed pull power; all 22 of his home runs this season have gone to right field or right-center field.
On Washington’s side, Rodriguez and Lagrange would add two Triple A pitching prospects - the Yankees’ Nos. 3 and 4 prospects - while Jones would give the Nationals another power bat in the outfield.
St. Louis offers another path.
In that deal, the Cardinals would get SS CJ Abrams and the Nationals would receive LHP Liam Doyle, OF Joshua Báez, and RHP Yhoiker Fajardo. Abrams would give the Cardinals a more aggressive swing at contention and could slide to third base or DH, letting Masyn Winn stay at shortstop.
He’s not a rental, which makes him a cleaner fit for a club still laying its foundation after selling heavily last year. The Cardinals would have to move real talent, but this framework allows them to keep their No. 1 prospect, 19-year-old catcher Rainiel Rodriguez, who ranks as MLB Pipeline’s No. 12 prospect.
Doyle and Báez, MLB Pipeline’s Nos. 22 and 46 prospects, would headline the package for Washington. Doyle was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 draft, Báez brings power and a strong arm, and Fajardo, St.
Louis’s No. 11 prospect, adds another arm with a mean slider and a 3.93 ERA at Advanced A ball at 19 years old.
Boston could also jump in. In that scenario, the Red Sox would get SS CJ Abrams, while the Nationals would land LHP Connelly Early and OF Enddy Azocar.
The Red Sox have surged back into the postseason picture thanks to a 14-game winning streak, and that kind of run can push a front office toward an aggressive deadline move. Trevor Story’s 2025 resurgence didn’t last, and he had a rough first half of the ’26 season before landing on the 60-day IL.
Shortstop is a weak spot for Boston, though top prospect Franklin Arias is climbing and probably won’t reach the majors for another year or two. Abrams could help the lineup right away and eventually shift positions once Arias is ready.
Early, 24, has 21 MLB starts on his résumé and has been strong this season, posting a 3.44 ERA with 93 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings over 17 starts. Azocar, 19, would give Washington another high-upside outfield piece, and he’s shown a blend of power and speed with a .801 OPS, 13 home runs, 48 RBIs and 11 stolen bases across 75 games between Single A and Advanced A.
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