The Washington Nationals have many weak spots, but CJ Abrams, one of the MLB-ready players that came over in the Juan Soto deal back in 2022, has been a bright spot for a team that has lacked them.
The Nationals need to address their pitching problem first and foremost. I would do that not by trading 2024 All-Star CJ Abrams but by trading MacKenzie Gore. The Nationals have a decently strong farm system, with highly touted pitchers that can bolster the team in the coming years, but they need help now--and for that, Gore is the way to go.
CJ Abrams is needed on the Nationals roster because the infield is lackluster. The team needs a leader in the infield who has quick movement, not just for fielding, but for base running, too. He stole 31 bags each of the last two seasons, and while his on-base percentage is about league average, I believe that if trained properly, and with practice, he can get walked more, get more singles, steal more bases, leading to more runs. The Moneyball mentality is needed here; you can't get runs without base runners, and as long as CJ gets on base at the top of the lineup, it doesn't matter if it's a walk or a hit.
So in short, I don't believe the Nationals should trade CJ Abrams--he is a fan favorite and has the potential to be greater than ever. He has stayed relatively healthy throughout his career, so all Nationals fans would love to see him be kept around.
However, it would not shock me if the Nationals did trade CJ, as the team has been known for trading its star players away to avoid paying them. If the Nationals want the best chance at inching closer to the top of the NL East, it is in their best interest to keep Abrams around. The 2025 number one overall pick, Eli Willits, also a shortstop, won't be MLB-ready until 2029. It is yet to be seen where the Nats need the most help, because their struggles are all around the diamond.
While it could be possible that Abrams' value might not ever exceed where it is right now, with new coaching in place, perhaps they can help him modify his approach at the plate and his defensive mentality. Or, he could end up changing positions and become an upper tier second baseman if he can improve on both sides. Time will tell, but I hope he is still in a Nationals uniform next season, as he still has multiple years of control left as well.