Position change suggested for Nationals' CJ Abrams that could be tied to a trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
CJ Abrams simply isn't a good shortstop.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA new stat shared about the Washington Nationals' SS by ESPN's Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel on Tuesday sums it up pretty well.
"Abrams has been the worst defensive shortstop over the past three seasons (-31 runs), with the next-closest player at -15 runs," they write.
That's in the context of ESPN analyzing whether Abrams will be traded this offseason. They set the chances at 35%.
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And they think that if it happens, it might involve a position change.
"He is a solid hitter, with close to average power and on-base figures, and is also an elite baserunner, ranking sixth in baseball over the past three seasons (+18 runs) due in large part to his 109 stolen bases in that span," Passan and McDaniel write. "If he were to excel defensively in center field while leveling up at the plate, he could still grow into a star, but those are two pretty big ifs."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAbrams certainly has the speed for centerfield, but it's not that simple. Sometimes, players pick up the ball off the bat and take good angles, and sometimes they don't.
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It's a risk for a team to take in acquiring Abrams, especially since he'll likely be costly.
"Abrams made his first All-Star team in 2024 and followed with a nearly identical 2025," Passan and McDaniel write. "And at just 25, he's in his prime. So why isn't he higher on this list? His defense at shortstop is not good, and the Nationals -- with a dearth of quality big league players -- will not trade one to teams unwilling to pay a premium for his age, position and control."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Nationals seem more likely to trade MacKenzie Gore given his shorter remaining club control. But in general, there's going to be a trade theme to this Nats offseason.
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