To trade or not to trade? The case for, against dealing CJ Abrams

It’s probably unlikely to happen, but trade rumors continue to buzz around Washington Nationals star CJ Abrams. 

The 26-year-old All-Star middle infielder is coming off the best season of his career, and teams like the Boston Red Sox (and certainly many others) would pay a pretty penny for his services. It’s not the most realistic scenario, but if Washington does decide to deal, they’d likely get back a massive haul. 

Let’s break down the cases for and against making a move. 

The pros: 

The main — and really only — positive of trading Abrams is the potential return package. 

It really comes down to how the Nationals’ front office views the team, and how far it is from contention. CJ Abrams is obviously incredible right now, but will Washington be good enough, soon enough to take advantage? 

If the team trades Abrams, they’d likely command several high-level prospects, and maybe even some additional big-league talent. In an ideal situation, they could possibly shore up a pitching staff that could use some work to get the team back to the playoffs. 

It’s essentially a quality versus quantity question, in addition to the timeline consideration. Do you want one high-level bat who has flashed MVP potential, or several guys with some upside who could fill multiple holes? 

The cons

The problem is that Abrams is exactly the type of young talent teams hope to get back in superstar deals — not the type you give up. He’s only 26, and will likely be in his prime for years, and could certainly improve even further. 

When a team trades a superstar, even if he could switch positions, the front office and fans alike hope with bated breath and crossed fingers that the return will yield a player like Abrams. The Nationals have gotten lucky in the past — Abrams, himself was acquired in a deal that sent a young Juan Soto to San Diego — but can they really do it again?

Plus, there’s a culture consideration. Washington has made a bit of a habit of trading away its stars in recent years, and it could be discouraging for fans to see yet another centerpiece head to another franchise. 

It will be a long offseason of rumors surrounding Abrams, but perhaps it would behoove the Nationals to sit tight and hold onto their budding star. He may just end up being a critical piece of a future contender in the nation’s capital.