New York Yankees Land Frustrating Update on All-Star Trade Target

The New York Yankees have re-signed Cody Bellinger, but they haven't added anyone of significance this offseason.

Essentially, the Yankees will be running it back with the same team in 2026, and while Gerrit Cole is slated to return at some point after missing all of 2025, you can't help but feel New York's roster is missing something.

For example, the Yankees could definitely stand to acquire another bat, especially given how rough the bottom of their order was last season.

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams has been floated as a potential possibility a couple of different times throughout the winter, and with the Nationals trading pitcher MacKenzie Gore earlier this week, Abrams trade speculation has increased.

But don't expect New York to land the 25-year-old anytime soon.

Washington president Paul Toboni cleared the air on the Abrams rumors Friday afternoon, dismissing conjecture that the Nats were shopping the All-Star infielder.

“I will give you the cliche response that probably every GM in every sport gives — we’d be dumb not to listen, right?” Toboni said on 106.7 The Fan. “It’s not like we are calling other teams and looking to trade CJ. ... While we’ll always listen, we’re going to take it day-by-day. And see what comes our way. If there’s something that makes sense, we’ll talk about it. But it hasn’t even come close at this point in time.”

So it doesn't look like the Yanks will be able to strike a deal for Abrams before the start of the season, but perhaps it's something that could be revisited by the trade deadline.

Abrams slashed .257/.315/.433 with 19 home runs and 60 RBI over 635 plate appearances last season. He made an All-Star appearance in 2024 after slashing .246/.314/.433 with 20 homers and 65 RBI across 602 trips to the dish.

The Nationals initially acquired Abrams in the deal that sent Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres back in 2022. He owns a lifetime .249/.306/.411 slash line.

But would Abrams actually comprise enough of an upgrade over Anthony Volpe for the Yankees to actually make a move for him?

While he is better offensively, it isn't a gigantic gap, and Abrams is one of the worst defensive shortstops in all of baseball.

Abrams is under club control through 2028, so the cost for New York to acquire him would surely be extravagant. I'm not sure Brian Cashman would be willing to part with such substantial prospect capital for a poor defender with a career .717 OPS.

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