CJ Abrams’ July surge gave the Washington Nationals shortstop something he had never collected before: his first career monthly MLB award.
MLB named Abrams the National League Player of the Month after a blistering stretch that put his bat front and center. Over 23 games in July, he hit .348/.408/.742 with 10 home runs and 23 RBIs. Among NL hitters, he finished the month first in home runs, slugging percentage and OPS at 1.150.
That kind of run only added to what has already been a big season for the 25-year-old. Abrams was selected to his second All-Star Game and has posted a .275/.352/.510 line with 20 home runs and 67 RBIs. Those marks either matched or set new career highs, reinforcing his place as one of the league’s top offensive players.
The July performance also came at a useful moment for Washington, because there had been some question about whether Abrams would slow down after the break. Instead, he pushed his season totals even higher. He is now tied for the MLB lead with 84 RBIs, ranks eighth with 28 home runs and sits ninth in wRC+ at 148.
His award arrives as his name continues to surface in trade chatter around the league. Contenders have reportedly shown interest in the star shortstop, but the Nationals’ asking price is said to be steep because they are not eager to move him without a huge return. Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reported that president of baseball operations Paul Toboni and his front office "haven't spent much time internally on offers" that are centered around Abrams.
With just hours left before the 2026 trade deadline passes, Abrams appears likely to stay put for the rest of the season. If that holds, Washington will keep leaning on his bat down the stretch, especially after dealing Luis Garcia Jr. and Curtis Mead, both of whom were above the league-average 100 mark in wRC+.
Abrams won’t be expected to keep hitting like he did in July, but the Nationals would gladly take something close to it. Even avoiding the kind of second-half dip that has historically brought him down to a wRC+ around 88 would count as a major step forward. For now, though, the headline is simple: Abrams just picked up the first monthly award of his career.
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Yankees Just Added A Bat That Puts Them In Rare Company
The Yankees made a rare kind of splash at the deadline by landing a bat whose production had stood out from the rest of the National League. The move brings Washington another reminder of how quickly a strong first half can turn into a different kind of spotlight, especially when a players name is suddenly part of one of baseballs most scrutinized trades.
What makes this one especially unusual is the timing. The deal lined up with another historic midseason transaction involving Luis Arraez, who was leading the league in batting average, and together they underline just how uncommon it is to see elite hitters change teams in July. For the Nationals, it is the kind of trade that will be measured not just by the return, but by the distinction attached to the player they sent away. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Future Now Rests On One Decision Bigger Than Toboni
The Nationals spent the trade deadline adding pitching depth, a move that fit the bigger picture of a roster still being built for what comes next. Most of the clubs key young players are under control through 2029 or 2030, which gives Washington a real runway to grow around its core and, in the meantime, keep adding pieces without forcing a full-scale reset.
The larger question is what the franchise will be allowed to do with that runway. Under a proposed hard salary cap system that could arrive with the next collective bargaining agreement in 2027, the Nationals are projected to have major payroll flexibility, and that could change the way they approach long-term commitments for players such as CJ Abrams and James Wood. For all the attention on the front offices personnel decisions, the shape of Washingtons roster may end up hinging less on any one executive than on the rules that govern the next era. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Made A Surprising Zack Littell Move Fans Didn't Expect
Brad Lords return from the injured list forced a roster move the Nationals could not avoid, and the surprising part was the name that got squeezed out. Washington designated right-hander Zack Littell for assignment to make room, a decision that arrived even with the club still sorting through pitching depth and trying to stabilize the back end of the staff.
Littell had logged 112 1/3 innings this season with a 4.97 ERA, enough work to suggest he could still be useful to a team hunting arms. His next stop may come quickly, since the expectation is that he will clear waivers and eventually land elsewhere once released, leaving Washington to move on after a short and unexpected fit. [Read more 🡒]