The Nationals are leaning toward keeping CJ Abrams, and that alone changes the feel of their 2027 outlook.
At the GM Meetings, Spencer Nusbaum reported that Washington is likely to hang onto the star infielder, despite the trade buzz that has followed him for the past year. Nusbaum said the Nationals want to be competitive in 2027, and keeping Abrams would be a major part of that plan.
That makes sense when you look at what Abrams just put together in 2026. The 26-year-old shortstop/second baseman hit .261 with 33 homers, 34 steals, 106 RBI and an .833 OPS.
For a middle infielder, that’s a monster season. He did hit a rough patch in August and early September, but he closed strong, posting a .913 OPS over his final 13 games.
That late surge mattered. Abrams had been dealing with trade rumors and a position change he didn’t want, and the finish suggested he was able to push through it. Heading into 2027, the Nationals are going to need more than production from him - they’ll need him to help lead the group.
He’s not the young upstart anymore, either. Abrams is entering his fifth full season with Washington and has already made two All-Star teams. Last year brought career-best numbers in most categories, and that kind of status comes with expectations.
The front office is clearly betting on him. By signaling that he’s staying, the Nationals are choosing upside over the safer move of cashing in. Nusbaum said the club wants to build around Abrams, and Paul Toboni is making it clear he sees him as part of the winner Washington wants to become.
That’s a real gamble from a value standpoint. There’s a case to be made that this is the moment to sell high, and there’s a very real chance people look back in July and wonder why the Nationals didn’t do it.
If the team doesn’t take a meaningful step forward next season, moving Abrams would have looked like the smarter play. For now, though, Washington is betting it can at least hang around the Wild Card race.
What happens around him matters just as much. Nusbaum also said that keeping Abrams and pushing toward the playoffs does not automatically mean the Nationals are about to go on a huge spending spree. He wrote separately that the club is unlikely to hand out massive multi-year contracts to relievers.
That creates a tricky balancing act, because the bullpen is still a major need. Washington has to find help at the back end somehow, whether that comes through a trade or a shorter veteran deal like Raisel Iglesias. If the Nationals are serious about building around Abrams, they have to get the rest of the roster right.
There’s also the position question, and that one isn’t going away. Abrams and his camp have made it clear he wants to play shortstop, but his defense there hasn’t been good enough.
On the Nats Chat podcast, Toboni said Abrams will play short and second, but probably more of the latter. With Seaver King on the way and Eli Willits also looming, the infield picture is getting crowded.
Even with that uncertainty, the message from Washington is pretty clear: Abrams is part of the plan. He’s too productive, too dynamic, and too hard to replace. A middle infielder who can threaten a 30-30 season doesn’t come around often, and the Nationals are acting like they know it.
In Other News...
James Wood Just Gave Nationals Fans A Huge Reason To Believe
James Woods rise took another big step when he was named to the 2026 All-MLB Second Team, a recognition that puts him among the six best outfielders in the sport. For a Nationals club still looking to build around young talent, that kind of honor matters because it confirms what the numbers already suggested: Wood is no longer just a promising piece, he is becoming one of the most productive players in baseball.
He backed up the selection with a season that featured a .265/.388/.503 line, 30 home runs, 30 doubles, 77 RBIs and 21 stolen bases across 135 games. Wood also led all outfielders in on-base percentage and set a franchise record with 10 leadoff home runs, a mix of power, patience and speed that gives Washington a real centerpiece to point to as it keeps trying to turn potential into wins. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Are Taking Another Flier On A Pitching Project
The Brewers are giving another low-risk look to a young arm with some traits worth betting on, and for Nationals followers, the name is a familiar one. Ben Moore, a 22-year-old left-hander, has moved on to Milwaukee on a minor league contract after spending two years in Washingtons farm system, where he was one of the more intriguing developmental pitching projects in the pipeline.
Moores appeal has always been tied to the raw stuff that made him interesting before he turned pro, especially the velocity he showed in amateur ball. Washington used a 12th-round pick on him in the 2025 MLB Draft, but his professional track record remains thin, which is exactly the kind of profile a team like Milwaukee tends to circle back to and try to unlock further. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Face A Tough Trade Question Around Another Young Outfielder
The Nationals have another young outfielder drawing outside attention, and this one comes with a familiar kind of front-office dilemma. Daylen Lile has made real strides in recent seasons, enough to put him on the radar of teams looking for controllable talent, but Washingtons view of him appears to be rooted in the bigger picture. For a club still trying to build something sustainable, players who are trending up tend to matter more than the short-term temptation of a trade market.
Paul Toboni is said to be open to listening, but only if the offer is extraordinary, which tells you how the Nationals are weighing these conversations. The same thinking seems to apply elsewhere on the roster too, with the team planning to keep CJ Abrams for the 2027 season despite interest from other clubs. For Washington, the message is clear enough: the front office is not eager to move young pieces unless the return changes the equation in a major way. [Read more 🡒]