Since hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy in 2019, the Washington Nationals have been stuck in neutral - not quite rebuilding, not remotely contending. But now, there’s a new brain trust in town, and they’re wasting no time reshaping the roster from the ground up.
Gone are longtime fixtures Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez, the architect and skipper of that title-winning squad. In their place stands Paul Toboni, freshly hired as the Nationals’ president of baseball operations after leaving the Boston Red Sox.
Toboni’s first big move? Bringing in Blake Butera, a rising managerial voice from the Tampa Bay Rays system, to guide the dugout.
Then came Ani Kilambi from the Phillies' front office, now installed as Washington’s general manager. Together, this trio represents a full-on philosophical reset - and they're already making waves.
The first major domino fell when the Nationals dealt lefty MacKenzie Gore to the defending champion Texas Rangers in exchange for a five-prospect package, headlined by last year’s first-rounder Gavin Fien. That deal wasn’t just a trade - it was a declaration. The Nats are leaning hard into a rebuild, and they’re not being shy about it.
And that might just be the beginning.
Catcher Keibert Ruiz, the oldest starting position player on the roster at just 27, could be next. Center fielder Jacob Young has drawn interest, and veteran starters like Jake Irvin and Josiah Gray could be on the move too.
But the name that looms largest in all of this? CJ Abrams.
Abrams is the kind of player who can define a franchise’s future - or reshape it entirely through a blockbuster deal. At just 25 years old, he’s already shown flashes of stardom at one of the most demanding positions on the diamond.
He’s dynamic, athletic, and still hasn’t hit his ceiling. Naturally, that makes him a hot commodity.
Multiple teams have already reached out to gauge his availability, and it’s clear Toboni and Kilambi aren’t letting him go for anything less than a haul. And they shouldn’t. Players with Abrams’ upside don’t come around often, and if he takes another step forward, his value could skyrocket.
But there’s a flip side to that coin. While Abrams has shown brilliance, he’s also had moments of inconsistency - particularly when it comes to decision-making on the field. Any team thinking about pulling the trigger on a trade will want to be sure those hiccups are behind him.
Still, the calculus is clear for Washington. If they want to truly accelerate this rebuild, moving Abrams could be the most powerful lever they have.
The Gore trade set the tone - young, high-upside talent in bulk - and a deal involving Abrams could bring in an even more impactful return. Especially if it's done before pitchers and catchers report in the coming days.
Of course, the Nationals could choose to hold onto him, bet on a breakout, and revisit trade talks midseason. But that’s a gamble. If Abrams doesn’t take that next leap, his trade value could plateau - or worse, dip.
Right now, the Nationals are at a fork in the road. They’ve committed to a fresh start, and the Gore deal shows they’re willing to make bold moves.
Moving Abrams would be the boldest yet - and potentially the most transformative. It’s the kind of decision that could either jumpstart a return to October relevance or leave fans wondering what could’ve been.
We’ll find out soon enough which direction they choose. One thing’s for sure: the Nationals’ new era is already in motion - and it’s moving fast.