The Washington Nationals are weighing up whether to significantly impact the MLB trade market by dealing one of their star players.
The Nationals have yet to decide whether to trade shortstop CJ Abrams, according to Spencer Nusbaum and Will Sammon of The Athletic. The decision depends somewhat on how aggressive other teams are in trying to acquire Abrams, as well as where the Nationals sit in the playoff race on August 3.
For now, the Nationals are not shopping Abrams, but will listen to any offers that come their way. The asking price is expected to be high, with the New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers interested.
Abrams is having a breakout season for the Nationals. Entering play Saturday, he was hitting .288 with 24 home runs and 16 stolen bases. There are concerns about his defense, but he has two more years of team control after this one, and would be a potent left-handed bat in any lineup.
The Nationals entered Saturday at 52-52, leaving them three games out of the final NL Wild Card spot. Trading Abrams would not suggest they are heading back into a rebuild, but it would be a bit demoralizing for a team and fan base on track for their best season since they won the World Series in 2019.
