Nationals Previously Offered CJ Abrams Long-Term Contract According to Report
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Washington Nationals star shortstop CJ Abrams has been on a tear to start this campaign.
Following an offseason that was full of trade speculation, the 25-year-old remained on the roster and has performed like one of the best offensive players in baseball thus far. In fact, what he's done might give the new front office something to think about when it comes to potentially moving him for future pieces ahead of the trade deadline or during the upcoming offseason, as Abrams looks like someone this franchise could build around if they work out a long-term extension.
That was something the Nationals reportedly tried to get accomplished two years ago. According to Andrew Golden of The Baltimore Banner (subscription required), Washington tried to extend Abrams back in 2024.
Nationals, CJ Abrams Couldn't Work Out Long-Term Deal
"The Nationals have believed in Abrams' talent since they acquired him from the San Diego Padres in 2022. In 2024, the team offered him a long-term contract extension, according to multiple people familiar with the talks, though the terms of the offer were unknown and discussions didn't go far," Golden reported.
Of course, that extension discussion was had with previous president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo. Since the terms are unknown, it's not clear whether Washington lowballed Abrams or if the rising star at the time preferred to bet on himself. Either way, because the Nationals weren't able to lock Abrams up to a long-term deal, that has opened the door for this new regime to trade him away.
Could Nationals Get an Extension Worked Out With CJ Abrams Now?
All signs point to current president of baseball operations Paul Toboni trading away Abrams at some point. The star shortstop's stock is through the roof right now based on how he's performed at the plate to start the season. And if he continues that into the All-Star break, he's going to be one of the hottest commodities ahead of the trade deadline and could net the Nationals a return that boosts their farm system to the top of the rankings.
However, Toboni also turned down what was reported to be a strong offer from the San Francisco Giants for Abrams this past offseason. So that indicates he isn't looking to move Abrams just to move him. Whether or not that means Toboni would be interested in extending his star shortstop isn't clear, especially since he hasn't approached other young stars about long-term contracts.
What is known is that the previous regime tried to get something worked out with Abrams but failed to lock him into a deal. And because of that, he could be on the move in the near future as this current regime tries to get this rebuild back on track.
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Brad Wakai graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Journalism. While an undergrad, he worked at the student radio station covering different Penn State athletic programs like football, basketball, volleyball, soccer and other sports. Brad became the Lead Contributor for Nittany Lions Wire of Gannett Media where he continued to cover Penn State athletics. Currently, Brad is the Publisher for Washington Nationals On SI and covers multiple teams across the On SI network. He is the host of the sports podcast I Said What I Said, where he and his co-host discuss topics across the NFL, College Football, the NBA and other sports. You can follow him on Twitter: @bwakai