The Washington Nationals are already deep into the offseason shuffle, and one of the biggest decisions on their board could be whether to move CJ Abrams.
The club had to make a flurry of roster moves when the deadline passed for players to come off the 60-day injured list, forcing Washington to get down to the 40-man limit. Among the notable names designated for assignment were Mitchell Parker and Jose Tena, but the move that would dwarf the rest of the winter if it ever happens is an Abrams trade.
That possibility is very much alive, and it has drawn the attention of a familiar suitor. According to former general manager Jim Bowden of The Athletic (subscription required), "The Red Sox will also continue to call the Nationals regarding a possible CJ Abrams trade," a development that fits both Boston’s offensive need and the connection between the organizations through Washington president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, who came from the Red Sox.
Abrams would not come cheap. The Nationals have made it clear they would only deal the two-time All-Star for a king's ransom, and after his 2026 season there’s no shortage of interest. He put together a huge year with 33 home runs, 106 RBIs and an OPS+ of 127, the kind of production that naturally puts him on other teams’ radar.
The question is whether Boston has enough left to make a real run at him. Ahead of the 2026 trade deadline, the Red Sox paid a steep price to land former No. 1 overall pick Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles, and that move left a mark on their system.
MLB Pipeline ranked Boston’s farm system No. 24 after the 2026 season began at No. 14, with the club having moved its Nos. 2, 5 and 6-ranked prospects. With only two top-100 prospects still in the organization, the Red Sox may need to include established major leaguers if they want to get a deal across the finish line.
Even with that uncertainty, the interest is notable. Abrams’ 2026 breakout makes him an obvious target for teams looking for offense, and Washington now has to weigh the long-term return against what it would mean to part with one of the faces of the franchise.
That decision goes beyond prospect value, too. The Nationals would have to decide whether the pieces coming back could eventually become the kind of impact player Abrams already is, even with his horrific defense. There is also the matter of how the fan base would take it, since some of the good will built up by the team in 2026 could vanish if Abrams is traded.
For now, the Red Sox are still in the mix, and Washington has a major call to make if those conversations keep going.
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There are still a few boxes to check, though, and Washington is already working on them. The club wants to see more pull-side damage and a little more lift in his batted-ball profile, the kind of adjustments that can turn a good hitter into a major league-ready one. If those changes come along as expected, Hacopian could be in the conversation for a big league debut by early 2028, with even a September 2027 look not out of the question. [Read more 🡒]
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Seattle is trying to fix an offense that fell short in 2026, and the move fits a broader effort to reshape that side of the game. The Mariners have also brought back a former minor league hitting coordinator as part of that push, while Washington is left to absorb the loss of a voice that helped guide its recent improvement. For the Nationals, the next question is how much of that momentum can carry over without him. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Trade Buzz Just Raised A Huge Prospect Question
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For the Nationals, Abrams is the name that matters most in that conversation, because any speculation around him naturally turns into a question about how much Boston would have to give up to pry away a player with his profile. The talks are still only exploratory, but they underline the tension in any potential deal: the Red Sox want more impact at the plate, while Washington would have to weigh whether the return justifies moving a young piece with real value. [Read more 🡒]