The Nationals are in a new era. Their stalled rebuild led ownership to fire president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez. Paul Toboni is now leading a front office for the first time, while the club brought in a rookie manager in 33-year-old Blake Butera. It's easy to imagine Toboni making a couple significant trades to add a needed influx of talent to the farm system.
"We're in the business right now of just bringing in as much value as we can to the organization," the new baseball operations president said from the GM Meetings (link via Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post). "However that may look, we’ll stay disciplined to that." The most obvious place would be to entertain conversations on left-hander MacKenzie Gore and shortstop CJ Abrams. Gore is down to two years of arbitration control and projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz for a $4.7MM salary. Abrams' $5.6MM projection is a little higher, but he has three years of remaining control.
This feels like the opportune time to move Gore. Any team in a short-term contention window could be interested. He's at least a mid-rotation arm with the upside of a #2 starter. The Nationals could hear from two-thirds of the league about his availability.
Whether to trade Abrams is a tougher call. The Nats presumably expect to compete for a playoff spot within three years. There's less injury risk with a position player than there is with a pitcher. The Nationals could view the 25-year-old shortstop as the kind of core piece whom they're more or less unwilling to trade. At the same time, Abrams has been maddeningly inconsistent over the past couple seasons. He's a gifted athlete who is nevertheless prone to defensive miscues. This may just depend on how a Toboni-led front office that didn't acquire Abrams views the player.
Abrams is coming off a .257/.315/.433 line with 19 home runs through 635 plate appearances. He has hit between 18-20 longballs in each of the past three seasons. Abrams has stolen 31 bases in consecutive seasons and ranks sixth in MLB with 109 steals since the start of 2023. He won't walk much, but he puts the ball in play with middle-of-the-road exit velocities. At his best, he looks the part of a top-of-the-order spark plug. He's coming off a second straight season in which he was only at that level for a few months. Abrams was a star-level performer in the first half of each of the past two years, but he slumped after the All-Star Break both times.
He's not much easier to pin down defensively. Abrams certainly has the frame and athleticism of a shortstop. He has been far too mistake-prone, however, with only Elly De La Cruz committing more errors over the past few seasons. Most of them have been related to poor accuracy. Abrams was charged with 18 throwing errors this year, three more than anyone else. He has committed 38 throwing errors over the past three seasons. As one might expect given all the easy misses, Statcast has graded Abrams as by far the sport's worst defensive shortstop in that time.
Other teams could have differing views on Abrams' defensive projection. There are presumably some who feel he's non-viable at shortstop and would only consider him at second base or as a potential center field conversion. Others could feel the throwing issues can be cleaned up with mechanical tweaks. They could also be motivated out of some amount of desperation considering the lack of alternatives. Bo Bichette could command upwards of $200MM and faces his own defensive questions. Only one team can sign Ha-Seong Kim, and he doesn't have anywhere near the same offensive ceiling that Abrams has flashed. There aren't many clear options on the trade front.
If the Nationals were to trade Abrams, which clubs should make the biggest push? Let's split them into a few groups. Teams are listed alphabetically within each tier.
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Volpe for Abrams they both need a change of scenery.
Volpe is garbage 😭😭😭 awful trade
Well…Abrams has 38 throwing errors over the past 3 years, with 18 this past season and that’s only the throwing part of his defensive abilities…..sparkplug at the top of the order….he fell off a cliff in the second half the last two years and he doesn’t walk and has mid line exit veto…..thanks for your “expert” analysis that he’s head and shoulders above Volpe…as most Yankees fans would agree, Volpe is far from perfect but he can play in NY and very possibly can improve his offense and defense (won a GG already) …..we’ll take a hard pass on the kid from Alpharetta knowing he may not translate to being able to play in a fishbowl thats NY…
Yeah, taking on Abrams would be quite a gamble. I’m sure C.J. is familiar with that.
the scenery in DC has changed.
I’d keep him another year and move him to 2B.
Baseball-Reference gives Abrams 10.3 WAR for his career, while FanGraphs dumps on him with only 6.9 WAR. As usual when there’s that big of a difference, it’s the defensive evaluation. BR likes his range, FG hates his arm. I tend more towards the BR side from what I’ve seen of him. He’s not THAT bad at short.
Abrams is very bad defensively at short stop. Most analysts, aren’t very good at evaluating defensive ability!!
So was Tatis at SS, and he is now a 2x gold glove winner in RF.
2x Platinum glove
As the article states, there are lots of questions as to his throwing accuracy which is kind of an important part of playing RF…Tatis had a cannon for an arm and fits well in RF eliminating the wear and tear of SS…..
It’s insane that PCA didn’t win the Platinum Glove. Tatis is even close to PCA’s defensive skills.
Well, he has 2 so someone disagrees with you.
Just to show you an alternative approach, let me say that PCA is a great young outfielder with a great deal of upside. However, there is no reason to downgrade Tatis because you are a Cub Homer and your guy didn’t win.
Maybe next year.
I’m not downgrading Tatis at all. Just saying PCA is better than Tatis likely doesn’t get to half of the balls PCA catches. But also the league doesn’t seem to like the Cubs. They also snubbed Cade Horton for ROTY and Michael Busch wasn’t even a gold Glove finalist for 1B
I like Cade better than Baldwin, for the l/t, but Baldwin had a better year.
Horton wasn’t snubbed at all. He just wasn’t the best rookie. Baldwin was one of the better catchers in baseball. You’re just a homer
Miguel Cabrera
SS
The article mentioned his big dropoff in the 2nd half the past two years, but here are the 2nd half numbers:
2024: .203/.260/.326 (64 wRC+) -.2 fWAR
2025: .217/.266/.368 (75 wRC+) .2 fWAR
While putting up a 128 & 132 wRC+ in the 1st half. Pretty bizarre not only how extreme they are but how both seasons were so dang similar.
With three years of control I’d keep him and bet on those splits cleaning up.
With Gore it’s definitely worth weighing trade offers and also kicking the tires to see what it would take to sign him for a 5-6 year deal. I wouldn’t go anywhere near Crochet money to get it done. He’s not as good but probably wants a similar deal.
And definitely try to sign James Wood to a decade long deal.
Gore is a Boras client, so he’s not going to be signing any extensions. He’ll be on the market in 2 years, wherever he is.
Likely, but not always. Stephen Strasburg would be the most clear example of a Boras client signing an extension with a team pre free agency since same team and all. The big difference was Strasburg was a FA later that same season (he signed in May) rather than being two years off like with Gore. That timing would get closer to Xander’s extension with Boston.
Really depends on what Gore wants, if he likes playing for the Nats and wants to be their Ace when their good.
Mike Burrows for Abrams. Burrows is 24, entering his second season and has a wicked curveball
I’ll give you Davis Schneider and any other player on the 40-man for Abrams. But you MUST take Schneider.
Even if Bo goes elsewhere, keep him away from the Jays. He has too many brain cramps on his record to think he won’t have many more going forward.
Let the Yankees have him. Play him beside the Jazzman …they can make discordant music together!
Jazz was a bust at third base, so a flat five. That makes him the 2 chord in a minor key. And the Yankees are definitely in a minor key. Sad.
Sorry but what channel were you watching when you say Jazz was a bust at third….while he was playing out of position at 3rd, he was pretty solid there and turned in some fantastic plays. Yankee “braintrust” felt he should move back to his best position at 2nd to unlock his offense while making him comfortable defensively……
Gorman and Walker and a Pitcher for Abrams and move him to 3B and Weatherholt at 2B. Then, Donovan can be LF trade Nootbar for Pitching.
Creative trade but I haven’t given up on Walker yet. Plus they need right handed bats
Nationals would not want Gorman and Walker
For Abrams they should.
Why would the nationals trade a player who is already good, for guys who have proven they aren’t good for several years?
Why? Gorman has a career 3.5 bWAR in 1,581 PAs, and Walker has a -2.7. It’s always possible for players to develop, but neither are trending in the right direction.
Because the Nats are still at least a year away from being competitive.
Neither are the Nats. You hope one hits.
Why hope one hits when Abrams already does? Sure he’s flawed, but he’s done more than either of those two in their extensive opportunities
If you’re looking for more out of an Adams trade, fine. Odds are it’s not that much. He is flawed, so are the Nats, they are better off tanking. Take two players off the very position they played in the minors to learn a new position, it is no shock they have suffered offensively. Make no mistake Adam isn’t fetching as much as you think.
I might be interested in that!
And why shouldn’t Casey Schmitt not be locked into an everyday role? His offensive numbers weren’t that different than Gleyber Torres and he provides better defense.
We would love to see Schmitt become an everyday player, but he’s pretty spotty. Out of 600+ at bats he has barely .06 war. He would be a good option for a utility player. I would like Donovan or Abram’s at 2nd with Schmitt in the backup role.
Would be a great trade for Braves.
Bubic, Mitchell, Melendez for Gore, Abrams
Match? I doubt they’re looking to move him right now.
The amount of fans on this page trying to trade their teams spare parts for Abrams is wild.
Jays make sense. Abrams probably makes more sense than Bichette considering the years and money Bichette will cost. Jays have some exciting young talent in their system they could make a deal for Abrams and perhaps even Gore as well. The Jays have to play to win now and I think thats what they will do.
Funny how just 1 year ago, everyone was deriding Shatkins for having produced a completely barren farm system, among other things
Now that Toronto made the playoffs, their farm system is full of desirable trade currency?
I dont think the Jays system was ever barren. But their best prospect was just drafted Jo Jo Parker. He’s projected to be ready in 2029. The Jays time is now i would trade him.
I think the Red Sox are a better bet than “long shot.” Boston should be in the thick of Bregman/Bichette talks because they need a right handed IF bat. Abrams is not in that tier — and not my choice — but he could fit in Boston at second base.
I think the Nats call Boston but I think the Red Sox would maybe try for Gore as well. And the Nats might ask for too much since they know the players and prospects pretty well.
Whyhayzee – I have no interest in Abrams, the kid is a talented head-case that seems like he loses focus on baseball at times, and was suspended and demoted by the Nats at the end of last season.
I like Gore, if he were righty i might be more tempted to go for it, but i’m not sure he’s the consistent SP2 the Sox need to pair along with Crochet. Here is why i’d rather keep the prospects it would take to get Gore……..
I would much rather go the short term route for an SP2, whether its Peralta or Alcantara or someone from Seattle, while continuing to hoard prospects and when the time comes, back-up the truck for Skenes
These teams DON’T have a hole at 2B:
Tigers: They signed Gleyber last season to take over for Torkelson, who had a poor 2024, and moved Keith to 2B. Now Torkelson is just fine, and they’re not going to give up on Keith, who is 24 and signed long term. If Gleyeber signs elsewhere (which is what the Tigers thought, perhaps mistakenly, when they gave a QO), Keith plays 2B.
Astros: Paredes comes back and reclaims 3B, Correa moves to 2B.
Mariners: They’re not going to give up yet on Cole Young, who is only 22 and has hit well in the minors. And if he fails, Colt Emerson is coming along to fill a middle infield spot.
Yankees: I guess the Yankees would consider a Chisolm for Abrams swap. Even though they seem to love Chisolm, he’s got only one year left to Abrams three, and his salary is about $9 million higher. But why would the Nationals want a one year rental of Chisolm? At SS, the Yankees are not giving up on Volpe, they have a solid backup in Caballero and Lombard is on the way.
I don’t see anyone topping Gleyber’s QO.
Gleyber is 28 and wants a long term deal. He’ll take a lower AAV than the QO rate for the security. Fangraphs crowdsource projection is four years at $18 million, and that’s probably more attractive to Torres than a one year deal. Whether anybody is prepared to pay that and give up a draft choice is the question. While this is similar to last year’s Alonso situation, Alonso was assured playing time with the Mets and a second shot of free agency without draft choice compensation. If Gleyber starts off poorly, Tigers have alternatives and Torres’ base year will not look attractive, particularly looking at a possible lockout.
He would take that, but I don’t see anyone offering that. Theoretically, he’s a good fit for the RS, but I wouldn’t go anywhere near that price.
But, as always, it only takes one…
Fangraphs crowdsource projection is wrong. There’s no chance any team is giving Torres that long a deal. I think he takes the QO bc he’s probably looking at at best ac3/45 type deal and I can’t imagine who would be foolish enough to even give him that. Maybe the pirates?
The Yankees aren’t trading Chisolm for Abrams. Abrams best case scenario is that he turns into a player like Chisolm. Why would the Yankees, who are contending, trade away Chisolm and downgrade their team. And why would the nationals even want a guy on a one year contract when they’re not competing.
Confucius once said: “A baseball team needing to boost its offense while knowingly taking a hit on defense probably shouldn’t do so at the 6”
Keep CJ move him to 2B, move Garcia to SS.
Garcia at short? Not a chance.
Mariner
He makes little sense for Seattle.
He would cost significant prospect capital and he would need to move to second base, where JP will likely play in 2027, and if not JP, one of Seattle’s many infield prospects or young players.
I think he makes a ton of sense for Seattle. We need a leadoff hitter and more contact. JP won’t be on the team in 2027 and prospects bust all the time. Abrams is a proven commodity with the bat and Perry Hill can absolutely fix his defensive issues.
One of the biggest mistakes fans make is making definitive statements.
Mariner fans that read the articles from local media, such as Seattle Sports, know the JP is one of their key leaders. He’s highly respected and
Odds are they intend to bring him back, I just question whether or not he’ll stick at short.
Pert Hill could help with the transition.
Does he have the arm to play short or even 3rd? He’s only in the 39th (I think, something like that) percentile for arm strength on savant.
I think the Nats and Braves could match up. Braves get CJ (area native), Jose A Ferrer, and their pick of Ruiz/Adams/Millas. Nats get Sean Murphy and AJ Smith-Shawver. Braves get an offense first starting shortstop, salary relief, a good, controllable bullpen arm and a backup catcher. Nats get a veteran catcher to work with their young pitchers and a potential #2 starter who is unlikely to pitch until late this year. Maybe the Braves throw in another minors arm, their third or fourth pitching prospect, if the Nats take on all of Murphy’s salary. Weiss the former defensive whiz might be able to fix CJ defensively.
Every position player on the trade block under rookie contract needs to go to Pittsburgh. They got pitching. They can’t hit.
Braves need a ss that can hit, but given we are in the same division I’d imagine it won’t fly
As a Tigers fan and accepting Skubal will not be wearing the Old English D in 2027… Instead of following how the Angels handled Shohei, I would be cool trading him for Gore and Abrams instead of watching him walk.