The Red Sox already made their big swing this summer, but one name that kept surfacing behind the scenes was Washington shortstop CJ Abrams.
Boston’s deadline haul was headlined by Adley Rutschman, along with Curtis Mead and Eli White, moves that could shape the club’s outlook in 2027 even though the 2026 postseason ended quickly. Still, the Red Sox weren’t finished exploring the market. According to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, they also checked in on Abrams, even if nothing came together.
"According to league sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations, Boston checked in on the Los Angeles Angels’ Zach Neto and the Washington Nationals’ CJ Abrams, but the team decided the asking price for those players, which included [Franklin Arias] and more, was too high," McCaffrey wrote.
At the deadline, Neto drew most of the attention in reports and rumors. Abrams didn’t generate the same buzz, but his case is a strong one. In fact, he may have been the better target.
Abrams put together a monster 2026 season for Washington, appearing in 152 games and posting a .261/.336/.497 slash line with an .834 OPS. He added 33 home runs, 106 RBIs, 34 stolen bases, 30 doubles and four triples. At 26, he still has two more seasons of control remaining.
Neto had a solid year too. In 157 games, he hit 27 home runs, knocked in 77 runs, doubled 31 times and slashed .239/.330/.436. He also carries three seasons of team control.
That difference in control matters now. If Boston had landed Abrams in the summer, it would have been getting him for two full seasons plus the stretch run.
That was then. Now, the Nationals shortstop is still available with two seasons of control left, and the Red Sox may be back in the market if they decide Trevor Story or Franklin Arias isn’t the answer for 2027.
If Boston goes searching for a shortstop again, Abrams makes sense as the name to watch. The Red Sox already showed interest once, and if Washington’s asking price comes down, there’s every reason to believe they should revisit it.
In Other News...
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For Nationals fans, the uneasy part is less about where Rizzo might land than who else is in the search and what it says about the post-Rizzo era in Washington. Houston is moving quickly to replace its GM, also talking with Brewers assistant general manager Matt Klein as it tries to have a decision in place before the upcoming general managers meetings, another reminder of how far the Astros have moved on while the Nationals are still living with the aftermath of their own reset. [Read more 🡒]
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Yovanny Cruz and Riley Cornelio are among the names worth monitoring, but both are still more projection than certainty, which is why the external market matters so much here. If the Nationals want a cleaner answer, Adrian Morejon stands out as one of the best relief options available, bringing the sort of performance track record and closer potential that could instantly change the shape of the bullpen conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Still Have A Catcher Question This Winter
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One possible fit is Jorge Alfaro, who is now available after being released by the Royals. Alfaro already spent time with Washington in 2025, appearing in 14 games, and his big-league track record gives the Nationals a familiar fallback if they want another experienced glove in the system. He would not be brought in to change the top of the depth chart, but he could give the club another layer of insurance behind Ruiz and Harry Ford as the offseason unfolds. [Read more 🡒]