The Nationals have built something dangerous enough that it ought to make them think twice before entertaining a flashy deadline deal.
That’s the case with shortstop CJ Abrams, whose name could come up before the MLB trade deadline on Aug. 3. Washington general manager Ani Kilambi would be wise to let those calls go to voicemail, especially if the Yankees come calling with a package built around shortstop Anthony Volpe and top minor-league prospect George Lombard Jr.
The reason is simple: Abrams and left fielder James Wood have become the kind of young core teams dream about, and the Nationals have no reason to split them up lightly. Since 2024, the pair has combined for 136 home runs entering Monday, with both players taking major steps forward together.
Abrams’ power has climbed year by year, with 20 homers in 2024, 19 in 2025 and 27 in 2026. Wood has been even louder at the plate, going from 9 homers in 2024 to 31 in 2025 and 30 in 2026.
Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden said " there's zero chance" the Nationals will trade Wood, but could be "overwhelmed" and move on from Abrams.
That’s the opening the Yankees would be hoping for. But even if Volpe and Lombard Jr. are the headline names in a possible return, it still shouldn’t be enough to pry Abrams away.
The Nationals’ offense has turned into one of the most productive groups in the sport. Entering Monday, Washington led the majors in home runs with 156, runs scored with 584, RBI with 555 and stolen bases with 116. The club was also second in hits at 929 and fourth in batting average at .255.
Wood has become a real force at the top of the order, too, with 10 leadoff homers. Abrams, now a two-time All-Star, has been the steady engine in the middle of it all, hitting .297 with 82 RBI and 114 hits for the 54-52 Nationals.
That production was on full display Sunday, when Abrams and Wood each hit two home runs in a 10-7 win over the Arizona Diamondacks at Nationals Stadium. It was the Nationals’ MLB-best 15th game reaching double digits in runs.
Volpe brings name recognition and some track record, even with his defensive issues. In his first two full seasons, he posted a 3.2 WAR in 2023 and 3.4 in 2024.
That number dropped to 1.7 last season and sat at 1.2 through 50 games in 2026. He also has 55 career errors against 53 home runs, a ratio that has left some insiders questioning his long-term value.
Lombard Jr. may be the more appealing piece. The son of a former big leaguer and coach, the 2023 first-round pick was hitting .264 in 50 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Even so, Washington has a better reason to hold than to deal. Abrams and Wood are already giving the Nationals a chance to build something special, and Kilambi should keep his phone muted when it comes to Abrams.
In Other News...
Nationals Fans Suddenly Have A Real CJ Abrams Deadline Fear
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CJ Abrams is the name drawing the most attention, and his recent surge has only made him more interesting to rival teams. The Brewers and Yankees have both been tied to him, and while Washington is not expected to move him lightly, the deadline always has a way of testing how far a team is willing to go when the offers start to get serious. [Read more 🡒]
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Josh Gibson Just Changed Baseball's Official Record Book
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For collectors, the timing only adds to the fascination around Gibson, whose cards have become prized pieces of the hobby, especially scarce issues tied to Puerto Rico and modern chase cards from the Bowman Retrofractor line. But the bigger story is what the updated record book says about how baseball is choosing to remember its past, and Gibsons newly recognized standing only deepens the conversation about just how dominant he really was. [Read more 🡒]