Four Trade Offers the Nationals Would Accept for CJ Abrams

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported on Dec. 8 that the Washington Nationals are receiving interest in shortstop CJ Abrams.

While Rosenthal poured water on that fire a week later, writing that the Nationals want another year with the 25-year-old, a lot can change with one phone call.

Part of the return for superstar outfielder Juan Soto, Abrams took some time becoming a productive big league hitter. Through his first 195 games in D.C., he slashed .248/.295/.393 with an 86 wRC+ and 2.1 fWAR.

Since then, he’s hit 39 home runs and posted 5.0 fWAR in two seasons. That said, Abrams’ time with the Nationals hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows as he has developed. Near the end of 2024, he was suspended and subsequently optioned to Triple-A for disciplinary reasons.

He responded well in the first half of 2025, posting a 132 wRC+ and 12 homers, but fell off in the second. He finished the year with 3.1 fWAR, but just a 75 wRC+ and 0.2 fWAR, the latter tied for 140th in baseball during that span.

It’s been a tenure of high highs and low lows. Still, there’s a lot of talent in the young shortstop regardless. That said, does the talent equate to trade value? That remains to be seen.

How Valuable Is Abrams?

To piece together a trade package, we first must establish who Abrams is as a player. In 2025, he had a career-high 59 extra-base hits to pair with 31 stolen bases.

He’s not a blur on the basepaths, but he finished top 10 in baserunning runs among qualifiers last season. Couple his baserunning talent with under-the-radar power, and he’s a rare breed of MLB player.

In fact, he’s one of just eight players with 60 steals and 60 doubles since 2024. Among that class are Shohei Ohtani, José Ramírez, Elly De La Cruz, and Bobby Witt Jr. That said, Abrams is the only one with below 6.0 fWAR in the same span.

Why is that?

Unfortunately, it’s indicative of a boom-or-bust approach for the shortstop. Since 2024, he’s a 107 wRC+ hitter. This is due in large part to his .315 on-base percentage during that span, but also an iffy batted ball profile.

He’s exceptional in pull-air rate, peaking at 22.2% in 2025. However, the only offensive metrics on Baseball Savant in which he ranks in the top half of the league are strikeout rate, max. exit velocity, and bat speed.

Another thing hindering Abrams’ value is his defense, which leaves a lot to be desired. The past two years, his -28 outs above average rank 90th. He’s dead last among 18 qualifying shortstops by 15 OAA; the gap between him and 17th is the same as the gap between 17th and ninth. Barring a dramatic improvement on defense, he’s likely not far from a position change.

He’s an exciting player when he’s rolling, but a sometimes frustrating one as well. That all plays a part in what teams would be willing to part with to acquire him.

Trade Packages for CJ Abrams

San Francisco Giants

If Rafael Devers plays more first base in 2025, the Giants could quietly have one of the best infields in baseball.

However, second base isn’t an area of strength for them.

Last season, Giants’ second basemen ranked 27th in fWAR and wRC+. While they were top half at the position in homers and steals, they net minimal value overall at just 0.3 wins above replacement.

Abrams would’ve lost two homers, according to Statcast, playing the entire season at Oracle Park. But the Giants have a gigantic ballpark, leading to being top 10 in ballpark factor for lefties in doubles and triples.

The Giants do have Willy Adames at shortstop, so this is 100% an acquisition with a position change in mind. But adding Abrams would complete the ensemble of infielders with 3.0+ fWAR potential on the Giants roster.

Potential Trade Package: RHP Hayden Birdsong, OF Dakota Jordan (JB’s No. 7 Giants Prospect), and RHP Marques Johnson

There have been signs of a quality arm in Birdsong’s two MLB seasons, but nothing consistent as of yet. Last season, he made 21 appearances and had a 4.80 ERA with a 22.8% strikeout rate.

In 137.2 MLB innings, he’s got a 4.77 ERA and 156 strikeouts.

His command comes and goes, but three of his pitches exceeded a 30% whiff rate. His money pitch was his changeup, despite overperforming expected data with it. In 55 plate appearances that ended on a change, opponents hit just .212 with 20 strikeouts. Only his four-seam garnered more punchouts last season.

His curveball saw heavy regression from 2024, as his slugging against jumped from .218 to .448.

At just 24, there’s plenty of time left for him to develop into a very good starter at the MLB level. With the Nationals on the hunt for more starting pitching, he’s a great project for the Paul Toboni regime to work with.

Jordan was the Giants’ fourth-round pick in 2024 out of Mississippi State. His last year of collegiate ball, he blossomed into one of the nation’s best power bats. Now, that did come with strikeout issues, but he saw his punchout rate drop to 22.8% in his first full year of pro ball.

The Nationals have a loaded outfield, but Jordan is a few years away. By then, who knows what the landscape of the Nationals will look like?

As for Johnson, the Giants acquired him from the Boston Red Sox for Mauricio Llovera in 2023. Though he’s yet to crack the bigs, he’s coming off a very good 2025 in Double-A. A true reliever, Johnson had 45 strikeouts in just 31 Double-A innings.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington, with help from super-agent Scott Boras, has been banging the drum that Pittsburgh is looking to spend this winter.

Given the reported offers he made for Kyle Schwarber and Josh Naylor, there’s at least proof of effort. That said, there’s nothing as far as results yet.

It seems the Pirates are at something of an impasse this offseason: Their habit of not spending creates doubt in potential free agents that this new desire to spend is something sustaining. While money talks, players still want to win.

For the Pirates to get the ball rolling on a contention window, making a trade would offer free agents something tangible to point to and say, “Okay, they are serious about winning.”

Last season, the Pirates ranked 27th in fWAR at shortstop and 25th in wRC+; they were 20th and 23rd, respectively, at second base. Right now, two positions could be covered by Nick Gonzales and Nick Yorke on Opening Day.

Potential Trade Package: IF Nick Yorke (JB’s No. 4 Pirates Prospect), LHP Hunter Barco (No. 8), RHP Mike Burrows (No. 10), and RHP Brandan Bidois

The Pirates acquired Yorke in 2024 from the Red Sox for right-hander Quinn Priester; not too long after, he found himself in his MLB debut.

His 33-game sample in MLB isn’t full of success, as he has -0.1 fWAR and a 68 wRC+ in 114 plate appearances. However, Yorke is a strong kid with a profile leaning more towards hit over power. That said, he’s capable of some high exit velocities, ranking in the 92nd percentile for Triple-A max. exit velocity in 2025.

Yorke also has versatility, with time spent at first base, second, third, and corner outfield.

Burrows has MLB service time himself, with most of it coming in 2025. Last season, he posted a 3.94 ERA and 1.3 fWAR in 96 innings.

His offspeed stuff was elite, with his changeup holding opponents to a .147 batting average and a 43.1% whiff rate. He also ranked in the 97th percentile for run value on the pitch.

His fastball wasn’t as successful, but he tended to leave it over the heart of the plate. Still, having great feel for a secondary pitch at 26 years old does wonders for establishing his floor.

Barco also has limited MLB experience. In Triple-A last season, he started 17 games (21 appearances) and had a 3.79 ERA with a 25.9% strikeout rate. He charted six pitches in 2025 but is a heavy sinker-usage lefty, which seems to be something of great interest league-wide this winter.

Lastly, Bidois finds himself in this package as the only member with no MLB experience. He made his way to Triple-A last season, where he made nine scoreless appearances spanning 13 innings. It’s a small sample, but his Prospect Savant page is blood red.

Bidois could get save chances for the Nationals alongside Cole Henry and Clayton Beeter.

Arizona Diamondbacks

It is starting to appear a matter of when, not if, Arizona trades second baseman Ketel Marte. With Geraldo Perdomo breaking out as an elite-level shortstop in recent years, the D-backs could enter the Abrams race to replace the 32-year-old Marte.

Jordan Lawlar has hit well in the minor leagues but struggled tremendously against big league pitching. Across 108 MLB plate appearances, he’s got just a 34 wRC+ and -0.6 fWAR. He’s dealt with injuries, but the former No. 6 overall pick is nearing “sink or swim” time.

For a team that signed Corbin Burnes a season ago, and now is entering the Alex Bregman sweepstakes, there’s an obvious desire to contend right now. A Marte trade counteracts that desire, but coming out of the winter, potentially, with Bregman and Abrams flanking Perdomo would give the D-backs a top infield.

Potential Trade Package: SS Jordan Lawlar (JB’s No. 54 Overall Prospect) and C Christian Cerda

Lawlar gets a fresh start in a new organization that wants to win but is in an era of player development. Washington would clear shortstop by dealing Abrams, therefore opening the position to the first-rounder.

Lawlar posted a 129 wRC+ in the PCL last season with an on-base percentage over .400. He’s got some whiff concerns, but there’s a lot to like about him as a prospect, still just 22 years old. In 2025, he was 80th percentile in barrel rate and 83rd percentile for pull-air rate.

Nationals Park has been pretty neutral to righties in recent years, but the ballpark isn’t without precedent for star-caliber production from right-handed hitting shortstops. Whether it be Ian Desmond or Trea Turner, the nation’s capital typically has a great shortstop complementing its superstar outfielder: Bryce Harper, Juan Soto, and now James Wood.

The Nationals also need catching help, rather badly, even after acquiring Harry Ford from Seattle. Cerda isn’t an elite-level prospect bat, but he avoids striking out, walks a great deal and hit 18 homers in 93 games last year.

He’s still a work in progress defensively, but his bilingual background helps his ability to work with pitching staffs.

Atlanta Braves

The Braves entered the 2026 offseason in unfamiliar territory. With a veteran-laden roster, Atlanta missed the postseason last year.

Injuries, inconsistent performance from key players, and a perfect storm of rotten luck tanked the Braves’ season.

Longtime second baseman Ozzie Albies could be a free agent after 2026 if he struggles again and the Braves choose not to pick up his team option. While they did re-sign Ha-Seong Kim to a $20 million contract, the long-term outlook up the middle is a question mark for the organization.

Because of the Kim signing, there’s not a seamless fit for Abrams; it would cause another move to be made. That move doesn’t necessarily have to involve Albies, as trading veteran backstop Sean Murphy would open the door for the designated hitter spot to become a revolving door, with reigning Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin becoming a full-time catcher.

Potential Trade Package: RHP Didier Fuentes (JB’s No. 11 Braves Prospect), IF Nacho Alvarez Jr., RHP Owen Murphy (No. 4)

Fuentes had a rough time in MLB last season, albeit in just four starts. The right-hander posted a 13.85 earned run average with six homers allowed in 13 innings.

In Triple-A, he was one of the better strikeout artists in affiliated ball. He also flashed plus command, ranking in the 92nd percentile for walk rate. His sweeper was his major out pitch in the minors, holding opponents to a .249 xwOBA and 40% whiff rate.

He may be a long-term reliever, but the arm talent is there.

Alvarez also has not-so-impressive MLB service time. However, he’s got elite bat-to-ball skills with advanced feel for the strike zone. He’s not a power bat, with his 10 homers in 2024 being his professional career high, but there’s value in what he brings to the table.

Defensively, he was great at third in 2025, posting five defensive runs saved and two outs above average. He’s also got professional experience at shortstop and second base, so he offers some versatility to the Nationals.

However, Murphy is the prize in this deal. A first-round pick in 2022, the right-hander still hasn’t pitched above High-A as a professional. This is due to Tommy John surgery in 2024.

His fastball isn’t overpowering, but it generates great carry. His slider is also a plus offering, giving him two true out pitches at just 22 years old. FanGraphs projects him to start in Double-A, but a good season in the Nationals system could get him on the precipice of the big leagues by season’s end.