"Abrams has three seasons of team control left. The Nationals need to assess whether they will be able to field a competitive team in the next three years. Most likely, Washington will begin to compete for a playoff spot in two to three seasons. The Nationals would have three seasons of productive Abrams, but it would not amount to anything. Instead, the Nationals should trade Abrams while his value is highest and acquire prospects that could help the team when they are ready to compete."
"However, by trading Abrams, the team would be extending what has already been a very long rebuild. When the team acquired Gore, Abrams, and Wood for Juan Soto, they hoped that those players would help build a playoff caliber team in D.C. Trading away these players signifies that this first rebuild attempt failed. This core of players could not deliver a championship."
Trading CJ Abrams makes sense because he has three seasons of team control remaining but the Nationals likely will not contend within that window. The team should trade Abrams while his value is highest to acquire prospects who fit a new core and can contribute when Washington competes. Abrams projects as a subpar defender and should move to second base, making him a poor fit for a future defense-first philosophy. Trading Abrams would extend the rebuild and acknowledge that the first rebuild attempt failed. The Nationals must cut losses, pursue a new core, and supplement with free agents and trades.
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