The Nationals’ offseason is still in its early stages, but the pressure points are already easy to spot. After a 2026 season that gave Washington a wave of breakout performances and real momentum, the front office now has to decide how aggressive it wants to be with a few key names - and how long it can afford to wait.
The biggest questions sit with CJ Abrams and James Wood.
Abrams has become one of the central topics around the club, and the conversation has split into two paths: extend him or consider moving him. A trade feels less likely right now, especially with the belief that a lockout will begin December 1st. Since Abrams is not scheduled to reach free agency until after the 2028 season, President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni does not need to rush into a drastic call.
That said, the case for getting an extension done now is strong. If Abrams puts together another season like the one he just had, his price tag is only going to climb. And depending on where the Nationals sit in the standings at the 2027 trade deadline, he could become one of the most sought-after players on the market.
Wood’s situation looks different, but just as important. His agent is Scott Boras, and that alone makes the path to free agency feel familiar.
There is little reason to think Wood would be any different from the Boras clients who usually make it to the open market. Even so, the Nationals have no reason to move on from their star right fielder.
There is also a roster wrinkle here. The expectation is that Washington could shift Wood to designated hitter next season after recently moving on from José Tena.
Wood has had second-half issues in each of the last two seasons, and while injury played a role this year, the pattern suggests he may be wearing down after the All-Star break. A move to DH would take some of the physical load off and let him focus on hitting.
Dylan Crews is another name whose role suddenly feels less secure than it did a week ago.
For a while, it looked like Crews would be locked into an Opening Day roster spot. That still may be the case, but his path to regular playing time has gotten murkier.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 Draft has struggled at the major league level and has already been sent down a couple of times early in his career. This was already shaping up as a make-or-break season for him, and the Nationals’ recent commitment of four years and $23 million to Jacob Young suggests the organization’s patience is thinning.
Andrew Pinckney is also in the mix for the fourth outfield job next spring, and Washington could still add more outfield help in free agency. That only adds more pressure on Crews.
At the same time, Wood moving to DH would open right field, which could give Crews a clearer route to everyday at-bats. That may be his best path back into the picture.
Then there is Elijah Green, a former top pick whose stock has not come close to matching his draft slot.
When the Nationals took Green with the fifth pick of the 2022 Draft, the appeal was obvious: size, speed, power, and a glove that gave him a chance to be a dynamic outfielder. The question was always whether he would make enough contact. So far, that answer has been no.
Over five seasons in pro ball, Green has hit .217 and struck out 718 times. This past season, he finally reached Double-A and produced a .170/.286/.310 line in 29 games. Across High A+ and Double-A, he struck out 214 times in 119 games.
Washington’s current regime did not draft Green, so there is no built-in attachment to him. If they decide to move on, it would not carry the same baggage. He is still only 22, but the bat has to come around soon if he wants to avoid becoming one of the bigger busts in recent memory.
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That makes the next few weeks especially important for a club trying to improve on two fronts at once. Toboni has said the Nationals will look for offensive help if the right opportunities present themselves, and that proactive stance matters even more with the possibility of additional changes, including a trade involving shortstop CJ Abrams, still hanging over the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Could Face A Tough Offseason Test In The Rotation Market
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Ryans contract situation makes him especially interesting for clubs looking to add rotation help, since he is under team control through 2027. But the looming possibility of a labor lockout could make the timing tricky for Minnesota and for any team trying to strike a deal, which means the Nationals may have to navigate a market where the best arms are harder to pry loose and the window to do it may not stay open long. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Front Office Faces A Defining Vegas Test
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Washingtons plans remain murky, but the stakes are clear enough: this is the kind of week that can reveal whether the Nationals are ready to be aggressive or content to wait. CJ Abrams is part of the conversation, and so is the broader direction of the club, with the next few days in Vegas likely to say plenty about how far the organization is willing to go before the lockout changes everything. [Read more 🡒]