The Washington Nationals have been active ahead of Monday evening’s 2026 MLB trade deadline, but the biggest name tied to their rumor mill may be staying put.
CJ Abrams has been the shortstop drawing the most outside attention, yet the latest reporting points toward Washington keeping him in-house. According to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic, the Nationals are “still signaling” that Abrams will remain with the club after the deadline.
“The Nationals haven’t spent much time internally discussing offers for Abrams, according to a person familiar with their thinking, further corroborating leaguewide sentiment that Abrams is unlikely to be moved at this year’s deadline,” Nusbaum wrote.
That lines up with how the rest of the league appears to view the situation. Nusbaum reported that several people around MLB believe Abrams is unlikely to be dealt, whether because they were told that directly or because of the Nationals’ high asking price.
“Abrams, who came in at No. 2 on The Athletic’s Top 50 trade candidates and just won NL player of the month in July, was thought of as a possible candidate to move before the deadline, though some around MLB cast doubt on the premise as far back as this spring,” Nusbaum continued.
A trade still can’t be completely dismissed, but Nusbaum said it would be “very surprising” to those familiar with Washington’s thinking.
Abrams has given the Nationals plenty to think about in 2026. Through 109 games, he is hitting .287 with 28 home runs and 85 RBIs, production that has put him squarely in the middle of the deadline conversation.
For now, though, the signs point toward Abrams staying in Washington. The Nationals enter Monday at 55-58, sitting fourth in the NL East, and they open a series against the Philadelphia Phillies that night.
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