At the GM Meetings, Spencer Nusbaum came out with a big report that the Nationals are likely to keep CJ Abrams. Given the fact that Abrams has been in trade rumors for a year now, this is major news. In his video, Nusbaum said that the Nats want to be competitive in 2027, and obviously keeping Abrams would be pivotal in accomplishing that goal.
The Nats shortstop/second baseman is coming off a career year in 2026. He hit .261 with 33 homers, 34 steals, 106 RBI and an .833 OPS. Those are extremely impressive numbers for a middle infielder. Sure, Abrams hit a bit of a wall in August and early September. However, he finished strong with a .913 OPS in his last 13 games.
It felt like Abrams had a tough time with all the trade rumors and a position switch he did not want to happen. However, seeing him rally and produce well over the last couple weeks of the season was important to see. Heading into 2027, Abrams will need to be a leader for this group.
The 26 year old is now truly one of the veterans on this Nats team. He is entering his 5th full season as a National. Abrams has now made two All-Star teams and posted career bests in most categories last year. That status in the league comes with new responsibilities. We will have to see if Abrams is up for the challenge.
By making it clear that they are not trading him, the Nats are putting a lot of faith into Abrams. I am sure their analytical models are saying this would be the time to sell high on Abrams. However, Paul Toboni is making it clear that he wants to build a winner with Abrams on the team.
Don’t get it twisted, this is a risky move from a value perspective. We could be looking back at this in July and wondering why we didn’t sell high on CJ Abrams. If the team does not take real steps forward next season, moving Abrams would be the smart thing. By keeping Abrams, the Nats are betting that they could at least compete for the Wild Card.
Hopefully this bet comes with increased spending, but I would not be so sure. In his video, Nusbaum said that keeping Abrams and wanting to push for the playoffs does not necessarily mean the Nats will go on some massive spending spree. He also wrote another article where he said the Nats are unlikely to throw massive multi-year contracts at relievers.
Those kinds of reliever contracts do often blow up in your face, but the bullpen is such a big need. The Nats need to secure the back end of the bullpen somehow. We will see if that comes from a trade or a one-year deal on a veteran like Raisel Iglesias. If you don’t want to sell high on Abrams, you need to build the right team around him.
From a fan’s perspective, it is really nice to see them come out and say Abrams is likely to stay. When he is rolling, Abrams is a wonderful player to watch. His combination of power and athleticism is mesmerizing to watch. There are not many players who can truly carry a lineup for weeks, but Abrams is one of those guys.
This decision not to trade Abrams is one of the biggest decisions this regime has made so far. In these big decisions, I think the front office has done a good job so far. They sold high on MacKenzie Gore, made a good managerial hire in Blake Butera and brought in a great staff. Now, they need to be right again because Abrams has plenty of value on the market.
It is important to note that Nusbaum did say that Abrams could go if a “godfather offer” came in. However, his reporting makes me think Abrams is pretty much off the market. Toboni comes from a school of thought where anybody could go for the right price, but I think the price he has on Abrams has basically taken him off the market.
The news that Abrams is likely to stay makes the 2027 Nationals a lot more fun. It also makes me very curious to see what the Nats do in these next few weeks before the lockout. This team still needs pitching help if they want to compete. The bullpen and rotation need reinforcements.
I also think the Nats could use another piece or two on offense. While the offense was elite last year, they will no longer have Curtis Mead or Luis Garcia Jr. in 2027. Those guys were key supporting characters last season. The hitting development has been stellar, but another corner infielder would be helpful.
For Abrams, a 2027 storyline to watch will be his position. He and his representation have made it clear that he wants to be a shortstop. However, his defense at the position has not been good enough. Paul Toboni said on the Nats Chat podcast that Abrams will play short and second, but probably more of the latter. With Seaver King coming up soon and Eli Willits on the horizon, the Nats have an infield puzzle to solve.
As a fan of the team, it is good to hear that Abrams will be part of that puzzle. Without his production, the offense would just not be the same. It is nearly impossible to replace a 30-30 middle infielder. That is probably why Paul Toboni decided to hold on to CJ Abrams. He wants to win more games in 2027, and you cannot do that without Abrams’ production.
