The nation’s shortstop CJ Abrams he received trade interest from the Yankees and is “expected” to receive interest from the Brewers, according to The Athletic’s Spencer Nusbaum and Will Sammon. Milwaukee also reportedly looked at acquiring Abrams from Washington last season, Nusbaum/Sammon writes, but the talks went nowhere due to the huge interest the Nats were known to want for the All-Star.
Reports last winter indicated that Abrams was being shopped, although baseball president Paul Toboni denied that explanation for the trade talks, saying “it’s not like we’re calling other teams and looking to trade CJ….While we’ll keep listening, we’ll take it day by day..” Likewise, Nusbaum and Sammon noted that “the Nationals are not shopping Abrams” right now but will listen to teams again if an attractive offer comes along.
There are many reasons why Abrams will still be in DC after August 3rd, including the most obvious point that the Nationals may be looking to buy rather than sell (or do a little of both) at the deadline. The Nats are 52-52 and three games out of the NL wild card, so while the club has struggled for most of July, adding much-needed depth to Abrams and Washington’s league-leading offense could put the Nationals firmly back in the race.
If there is no Abrams offer, Luis Garcia Jr.or Foster Griffin (three big tangible team points) stood out for Toboni, he could keep the whole team together and look like an aggressive deadline buyer. Griffin is an upcoming free agent but Garcia is subject to arbitration through 2027 and Abrams through 2028, so the Nats are in no rush to move either infielder.
Abrams only added to his trade value with what is easily the best of his five MLB seasons. Abrams’ .288/.361/544 slash line represents personal bests in all three categories, and he has already topped his home run tally by launching 24 big flies this year. Only nine players in baseball (teammate James Wood is one of them) has a better wRC+ than Abrams’ 144 number.
A good opening two months was followed by a .708 OPS in June, but Abrams roared back with a 1.092 OPS over 72 PA in July. This latest success may put to rest some doubts about Abrams’ ability to produce a serious product, as he got off to a hot start in 2024 and 2025 before going cold in the final three months of those seasons. That said, his strikeout, walk, and hard contact rates are all average, and while his .349 xwOBA is still pretty good, it’s well below his .385 wOBA.
Abrams’ offense is so big that it can make teams look past his poor performance. For the second consecutive season, the Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average metrics both improved Abrams’ career in the short term. (OAA has never been a fan, with a -57 grade in Abrams’ five-year career.) Abrams played a few games at second base and even had a little decent work during his 2022 season with the Padres, so it’s possible a new club could trade him to second base, though a midseason switch would be difficult.
This means the Yankees can put Abrams at second base and move Jazz Chisholm Jr. move to the third position, turn around Ryan McMahon be the first backup. But in a situation like this, it’s possible the Yankees will just have to live with Abrams’ lack of defense and put him at shortstop. Jose Caballero again Anthony Volpe into bench pieces.
Given how bad New York’s offense has been since then Aaron is the judge continued with the IL nearly two months ago, the Yankees have a much greater need for a big bat than defensive help. In the long run, the Yankees could look to move Abrams to second base in 2027 as Chisholm is a free agent after the season and at shortstop. George Lombard Jr. is New York’s top prospect.
Rookie Cooper PrattThe bat has picked up steam in the past few weeks, but he’s still hitting .258/.343/.344 in his first 108 major league plate appearances. With the Brewers getting nothing from third base, Pratt could easily be moved to the hot corner to meet him. David Hamiltonwhile Abrams took over at shortstop.
Abrams as a long-time player in the Milwaukee infield can create intrigue. Pratt has already been signed to a long-term extension, a second baseman Brice Turang subject to arbitration control in 2029, and internal prospects Jesus Did again Luis Pena both minor leagues are blue. Maybe the Brewers could continue with Pratt at third base and Abrams at shortstop until Made is ready, or maybe the Brew Crew could try Abrams as the first baseman. It’s possible the Nationals will ask to be made a priority in any Abrams negotiations and that’s a move the Brewers are likely to make, but Pena could be a realistic inclusion in a trade package.
Moving forward, Milwaukee and New York each have well-regarded farm systems with little league depth. The idea of having a controllable player like Abrams for at least three postseason runs would make a trade more open to coming somewhere close to Washington’s asking price, assuming he’s asking for a drop in the “absurd” demands Nusbaum/Sammon heard the Nats were making for Abrams earlier in the season.
