CJ Abrams is the most interesting player on the trade market. Washington is not shopping him, but they are listening. The Yankees and Brewers are both listening back.
Abrams is a 25-year-old All-Star shortstop having the best year of his career. He is hitting .278 with 24 home runs, 76 RBIs and 16 stolen bases through 100 games. His 148 OPS+ ranks him in the top 20 of all qualified hitters. He is under team control through 2028.
He is exactly the kind of player who does not get traded at the deadline. Which is why the current situation is so interesting.
Why Washington Might Move Him
Mike Rizzo is not selling everyone. He is selling smart. Trading a controllable young star at his peak value is smart if the return is another controllable young star or two of them.
Washington’s next competitive window is 2027 or 2028. Abrams will still be under contract then, but he might not be the same player. He might get expensive in arbitration. He might get injured. There is real risk in holding onto him.
Moving him now for two top-100 prospects lets the Nationals reload the system and stay flexible.
The Yankees Package
The Yankees have the deepest farm system in the American League. They have shortstop George Lombard Jr., who ranks as a top-10 prospect in all of baseball. They have Roderick Arias, another top shortstop prospect. They have pitchers Cam Schlittler and Chase Hampton knocking on the door.
Brian Cashman is willing to make one of those prospects available. He is not willing to include two.
The Yankees have been trying to fix shortstop for years. Anthony Volpe has been solid but not the star they hoped. Adding Abrams gives them a legitimate top-of-the-order presence and a real threat on the basepaths.
The Brewers Package
Milwaukee has a scary farm system. Jesus Made is one of the top-five prospects in baseball. Cooper Pratt is another top-50 guy. Luis Peña is an emerging bat.
The Brewers are trying to keep their contention window open for as long as possible. Abrams would slide in at shortstop and let Milwaukee move Willy Adames to a super utility role or trade him for pitching.
The catch is money. Abrams is going to be expensive in his last two arbitration years. The Brewers have never spent big on a shortstop.
What the Nationals Actually Want
Rizzo has been telling teams he wants two top-100 prospects plus a major-league-ready piece. That is a lot to ask for, but Abrams is a lot of player.
The Yankees have the better prospects. The Brewers have more depth. The Nationals will play them against each other until the deadline.
Do not be surprised if a third team, maybe the Padres or Giants, jumps in with a mystery offer to force the price up.
The Wrinkle
Abrams himself might not want to move. He has been vocal about liking Washington and wanting to be part of the next contending group. He has a no-trade list.
Rizzo can trade him regardless. Abrams cannot block a deal. But if the trade goes to a place he does not want to be, that is going to be a distraction.
The Yankees are on his good list. The Brewers are not necessarily on the list but not blocked either.
The Prediction
Abrams ends up with the Yankees. New York wins because they have the better prospect package and Cashman is more aggressive at the deadline than Matt Arnold. Washington gets Lombard Jr. and another top-50 prospect.
The Yankees suddenly have a legitimate five-tool shortstop and their playoff odds jump significantly. Volpe moves to second base. Gleyber Torres becomes trade bait.
The Nationals restock the farm and reset the clock on their competitive window. The Brewers move on to their backup plan.
Everyone gets what they need. And CJ Abrams goes from a rebuilding franchise to a legitimate contender in the middle of his best season.
The deadline is going to be wild.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
