Offseason Position Discussion : SS

CJ Abrams was the Nats SS in 2025 and he was no worse than their 3rd best player.  But by all metrics he wasn't a good SS. Do you try to move him to a less demanding position to maximize total value with Nunez at SS or do you let Abrams stick? The Nats let him play SS again and he rewarded them with an All-Star level season at the plate. At one point in early August he might have the best hitting SS in baseball. The Nats entertained trades but found nothing they liked so they stuck with him. Instead they had him work in more DH time and some 2B work. Whether related or not, the wheels came off at the plate and he was pretty terrible in the last quarter of the season. 

 The presumption again is CJ will be the SS. The question again is will CJ be here 

Presumed Plan : 

Abrams plays SS holding ground until a mid-season trade in case the Nats somehow roll snake-eyes on all their middle infield prospects. Then he's off to some contender for whatever the Nats can get back 

Reasoning behind Presumed Plan : 

The management doesn't seem to be committed to CJ being around here long term. We haven't heard long term deals discussed, they don't talk about him that way, and oh yeah, they did look to trade him last year. It'd be nice to trade Abrams for something really good in this off-season and I think that was a real plan, but Abrams end to the season means they might be selling low. 

Since none of the MI prospects are reading right now, trading CJ means a Furman/Nunez middle infield and likely guts the lineup of a team you are hoping hangs around in an interesting way again to get fans back into the team for 2028 when you are really trying. That doesn't seem like a good idea. Instead it makes more sense to keep him, hope he has another great season at the plate, hope your prospects look ready by July and then make the best deal you can.  

My Take :  

CJ Abrams likes to play SS.  Unfortunately he's not the best at it. In fact he's one of the worst by most defensive metrics.  However his bat is for real.  If he can put a full-season together he would be a Top 5 bat which would be in line with what he was thought of coming up. There's a real chance you are trading away a star in Abrams. 

But you aren't trading away a Jeter. Jeter was a legit Top 3 SS bat from basically 1998 (age 24) until 2010.  Along with all the other stuff that's why you put up with / tried to compensate for his defense. Abrams was 25 last year and we're still in the "hoping he puts it together to be a Top 3 SS at the plate".  He's not a generational player. He's just maybe a star. And guys like Willits also may be stars. 

I am of the "don't trade good players - sign them" school. But if Abrams won't move off SS with good spirit I don't think you have a choice... assuming the prospects give you a guy to replace him. I'd love to see Abrams walk into Spring and say "put me at 2B" but if not I think we're headed for a trade and I get it. 

If that's the case though I think the Nats messed up by not dealing him last year.  The market wasn't great but it's probably not going to be better this year.  Is Abrams really going to be maybe the best SS at the plate at the end of July again?  I'd bet on no. And with one less year under control he's going to bring back less than whatever didn't impress the org last year. It was really a pull the trigger or keep the man time and they are going to end up doing neither and I think that was a rookie org mistake that I hope they learn from. 

Abrams is a good fun player with another 5+ years of usefulness in this league. I hope the stars align and the Nats find a way to keep him here.