The Nationals deployed a strategy of both buying and selling at the trade deadline this season, shipping off major league talents such as Curtis Mead, Luis Garcia Jr., and Foster Griffin, while also acquiring immediate big league help such as Connelly Early, Will Dion, and Yovanny Cruz. They didn’t quite buy in the sense some expected, holding onto almost all of their prospects except outfielder Christian Franklin, who was swapped for Orioles relief pitching prospect Joe Glassey, but they showed
they would be somewhat aggressive in acquiring pieces that could help them win in the upcoming season.
So as the Nationals enter the winter and look to bolster their roster for a potential playoff push in 2027, the question looms of what current Nationals, either big leaguers or prospects, could be used as trade chips to strengthen the roster. Having taken over the organization about a year ago, there are still plenty of players in the system that Paul Toboni did not acquire, ones who he would be more willing to part with than the old regime would’ve been. Let’s examine some of those potential trade chips, and who Nats fans could expect to acquire if they were to be shipped off.
SS/2B CJ Abrams
I’ll begin by getting the big one out of the way, that being CJ Abrams. Abrams had a career year in 2026, setting new personal bests in just about all offensive categories, but he is also 2 years away from free agency, a defensive liability, and a middle infielder in a system with a plethora of middle infield talent on the way up. While in an ideal world Abrams could be a National long-term with a contract extension, it would be malpractice for Paul Toboni not to at least take calls from other teams about Abrams.
Now most fans would expect a CJ Abrams trade to be a signal of the Nationals selling, but does it have to be? Perhaps there is a world where a swap for a high-profile hitter or starting pitcher could be performed, bolstering the Nationals in another area while temporarily weakening them in another, at least until the likes of Seaver King, Eli Willits, and others can fill the gap.
2B Luke Dickerson
Luke Dickerson making it through the trade deadline as a National was somewhat of a surprise to me, as he was top of my list of prospects I expected the Nats to shop. Dickerson is a talented young ballplayer, putting up a strong 112 wRC+ in 118 games in 2026, but in a Nationals system filled to the brim with exciting middle infield talent, he’s an awkward fit. The Nationals have tried Dickerson all over the field, getting him plenty of outfield reps upon his call-up to High-A, but the best thing for both parties may be finding a new home for Dickerson and some more pitching depth for the Nats’ farm system.
1B/3B Yohandy Morales
Morales is another name I expect could be on a new ballclub by the start of 2026. Morales had a great year at Triple-A, with a 127 wRC+ in 104 games, and a solid cup of coffee at the big league level, with a 124 wRC+ in 17 games, but there are holes in his offensive profile that make me question his long-term viability as a big league bat, especially with the little defensive value he provides. The front office clearly had some questions as well, only finally giving YoYo a shot in the bigs in September despite some incredibly hot stretches at Triple-A during the year.
SS Coy James
James showed some exciting tools in 2026 at Low A, but similar to Dickerson, his fit in the Nationals farm system is awkward unless he were to be moved off the middle infield. The Nationals also not promoting James was somewhat interesting, although the logjam of infield talent at High A could also help explain that. James’ combination of power and speed makes him a more interesting trade chip than Dickerson and YoYo, with the chance of returning a quality big league reliever or backend starter if paired with another piece or two.
C Caleb Lomavita
Lomavita is another prospect brought in by the old regime that has simply been passed up in the Nationals farm system by other backstops, with Maxwell Romero Jr. earning the promotion to Triple-A over him midseason. Lomavita hasn’t posted bad numbers, with a 102 wRC+ in 85 games in 2026, but his free-swinging approach as well as subpar defense have led to him being passed up in the organizational depth chart. Lomavita may not bring in much value on his own, but could be used as a flier piece to help get a deal done.
