The Atlanta Braves are looking at their shortstop options, and one name that’s caught some attention might surprise you.
Ken Rosenthal from The Athletic floated the idea of a potential trade for CJ Abrams from the Washington Nationals. It’s an interesting thought, though even Rosenthal questioned why the Nationals would want to move on from him.
What makes this conversation more relevant is what’s not available. Bo Bichette isn’t looking like a realistic option for Atlanta, mainly because his defensive metrics have become a real problem.
“Many teams, knowing Bichette’s defensive metrics are among the league’s worst, no longer view him as a shortstop,” Rosenthal wrote.
The Abrams Question
That’s where Abrams becomes more intriguing. Rosenthal wondered whether new Washington president of baseball operations Paul Toboni would actually trade a shortstop with three years of control left to a division rival.
He also mentioned Ezequiel Tovar from Colorado as another possibility, though that seems even less likely given his team-friendly deal – $54 million over five seasons with a buyout option.
What Abrams Brings
Abrams has been tough to evaluate at times, but he’s shown real quality when he’s on the field. The 2024 All-Star selection wasn’t a fluke.
One thing that’s stood out is his power development. He’s hit at least 18 home runs in each of the past three seasons, which answers some of the questions scouts had about his bat when he was coming up through the prospect ranks.
At just 25 years old – he turned 25 in October – there’s still room for growth. That’s the kind of timeline that could work well for Atlanta if they’re thinking long-term at shortstop.
The question isn’t really whether Abrams would fit. It’s whether Washington would actually make him available, especially within the NL East.
