Nationals will listen to offers on CJ Abrams but won’t budge — for now

One of baseball’s bright young stars could receive significant interest ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

But that doesn’t mean he will be on the move.

The Nationals will listen to offers on two-time All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams, even though they are not actively shopping him nor have they decided if they will trade him, The Athletic reported Saturday.

Sources told the outlet that Abrams, 25, would be the most valuable player on the market if Washington decides to dump him.

CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals snags a ground ball in the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park on July 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. Getty Images

The Nationals hold a 53-52 record and are two games back of a wild-card spot in the National League, so they’re still in the playoff hunt.

A big reason for that is Abrams, who is putting it together this year in what has been a career season.

Through 100 games, he has a .293 average, 25 home runs, 79 RBIs and a .921 OPS, all of which are career highs.

The Post’s Jon Heyman reported in June that Abrams could draw significant interest if he became available in a trade.

A rival suggested Abrams made sense for the Yankees, but the Bronx Bombers have a strong belief in top shortstop prospect George Lombard Jr. and are reluctant to trade him.

CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals celebrates on second base after hitting a two-run double in the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park on July 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. Getty Images

The Brewers, who did not pull the trigger on a trade for Abrams in the offseason, could be willing to swing a deal for him in the next week, The Athletic reported.

Abrams was one of the key pieces the Nationals acquired when they dealt Juan Soto and Josh Bell to the Padres in 2022.

If the Nationals were to trade Abrams, James Wood would be the only one left at the MLB level still with Washington from the Soto trade.

Pitcher Jarlin Susana, who also arrived in the package, has yet to pitch above Double-A and has been out with an injury this season.

Abrams isn’t the only shortstop that could be moved, as the Red Sox have interest in the Angels’ Zach Neto, The Athletic reported this week.

The Mets’ Francisco Lindor has been the subject of trade rumors in recent weeks as the Amazin’s slide well out of contention, though president of baseball operations David Stearns did not suggest the veteran would be dealt at the deadline.

“I’m not going to rule out or in any specific player on anything,” Stearns said Friday. “I don’t think that’s wise for me to do. What I will say is, we’ve got a group of young players and we’ve got some potential Hall of Famers, future Hall of Famers, that we view as our core. We expect them to be our core.”