The Nationals’ surprising push into the NL Wild Card race has changed the feel around Washington, but it hasn’t erased the long-term question sitting at the center of the roster: what happens with CJ Abrams?
At 50-50 and just 2.0 games out of a postseason spot, the Nationals are in position where selling would not be the obvious move. Still, Abrams stands out as the kind of player whose value could force a hard conversation.
He’s 25, he’s an All-Star again, and he’s producing the best season of his career. If Washington doesn’t see an extension coming together, the 2026 MLB trade deadline could be the moment to consider moving him.
As MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand put it, “The Nationals could look to extend the 25-year-old shortstop to make him a core piece for years to come, but if they don't believe such an extension is in the cards, there's an argument to be made that this is the time to trade Abrams.”
The numbers back up why his market would be strong. Abrams has posted 3.0 bWAR with 21 homers, 99 hits, a .277 batting average and an .869 OPS. He’s already picked up his second All-Star selection and continues to look like a star in the making on the infield.
The other piece is the contract situation. Abrams is under club control through the 2028 season, which gives Washington 2.5 years of control.
That’s exactly why the timing matters. If the Nationals can’t lock him into a longer deal, waiting only chips away at the return.
If Washington holds him through 2027 and then tries to move him later, the market changes fast. He’d be down to a one-year rental, and that would drag his value down considerably. Right now, coming off his best season and still carrying multiple years of control, he would command a far bigger haul.
That’s the uncomfortable part for the Nationals. Trading Abrams would hurt, and a compensatory draft pick in free agency would be a much smaller payoff. But if extension talks go nowhere and the club slips over the next few weeks, the possibility of a major trade package for Abrams is the kind of opportunity they may have to seriously weigh.
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