The Yankees may have taken a step forward right before the All-Star break, but the bigger picture still has them chasing the Rays in the AL East.
New York sits three games behind Tampa Bay after a June and early-July stretch that dragged them back. The sweep of the Nationals in Washington offered a lift, though it also came against a team whose roster could become part of the trade conversation later this summer.
One name to watch is CJ Abrams. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller wrote Wednesday that a deal sending the Nationals shortstop elsewhere looks “unlikely.”
"Even if they do go the selling route, though, would they really unload CJ Abrams amid a career season with two years of control remaining?" Miller wrote. "Or maybe just get something for impending free agent Foster Griffin and call it a day?"
From the Yankees’ side, Abrams would bring a much stronger bat than either Anthony Volpe or Jose Caballero. He would not, however, solve anything defensively, since his glove has been described as subpar.
The numbers at the plate are what make him stand out. Abrams has 67 RBIs in only 93 games, both a career-high pace, and his .862 OPS is more than 100 points above his previous best of .742. He has also launched 20 home runs, while Caballero and Volpe have combined for 11.
Washington’s surprising push has put the Nationals in the conversation as a postseason contender, even if they still might come up short. That makes the decision on Abrams even more complicated, and it may be why the club is more likely to keep him around for next season than move him now.
In Other News...
Red Sox Fans Should Think Twice About Francisco Lindor At Deadline
The Red Sox are still sorting through a deadline shopping list that points to catcher, designated hitter and shortstop, but Francisco Lindor is the kind of name that can tempt a front office into moving faster than it should. He has the pedigree, the star power and the kind of long-term contract that usually comes with a franchise centerpiece, yet this season has been uneven enough to make any team pause before paying a premium for the Mets shortstop.
Boston would be better served looking at alternatives who fit the roster and the park more cleanly, with Jeremy Pea standing out as the more practical shortstop target. And if the Red Sox are dreaming even bigger, James Wood is the type of bat that could change a lineup, though his availability depends entirely on where Washington sits in the NL Wild Card race as the deadline approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Just Locked In A First Round Win Fans Will Love
The Nationals got their first-round business done with Chris Hacopian, locking up the 11th overall pick on a $5.7 million deal that comes in below the slot value attached to that selection. Hacopian brings a polished bat to the organization after starring at Texas A&M and Maryland, and the signing gives Washington a little more flexibility as it works through the rest of its draft class.
Hacopians deal also fits neatly with the clubs broader plan, since the savings can be used to help get other picks signed and keep the class intact. The team even leaned into the personal side of it by posting a signing video at Nationals Park, a nice touch for a player who grew up in the area and has long been a fan of the franchise. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Suddenly Face A Difficult Dylan Crews Decision
Dylan Crews entered the All-Star break with the kind of uneven stretch that can sharpen the spotlight on a young player in Washington. The former top prospect has shown why the Nationals were so excited about him, but his early major league production has not matched the promise he built in the minors, and the recent series before the break only added to the concern with both his bat and his play in the field.
For a club still trying to balance development with the pressure to win more games, Crews is suddenly at the center of a familiar question: how long do you stay patient, and how much do you ask from a player still learning on the job? The Nationals have made clear they want better communication between the front office, coaching staff and players as they guide that process, and Crews next stretch will go a long way toward showing whether that approach can steady a talented but inconsistent young cornerstone. [Read more 🡒]