Washington Nationals Plan to Retain CJ Abrams Ahead of Salary Escalation

The Washington Nationals intend to hang onto star infielder CJ Abrams for the upcoming 2027 season rather than trade him, despite persistent rumors and a projected arbitration salary bump to $10.2 million.

Abrams, 26, has two years of team control remaining after joining Washington from the San Diego Padres in the 2022 Juan Soto blockbuster. The Nationals front office, under president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, appears increasingly confident in the squad's progress after a 2026 campaign in which Abrams hit a career-high 33 home runs alongside a .261/.336/.497 batting line.

The financial commitment to Abrams is growing rapidly. After earning $4.2 million last season, his salary is projected to climb substantially, expected to cost upwards of $30 million combined across his final two arbitration-eligible years. On the field, Washington also began transitioning Abrams from shortstop to second base late in 2026, where he logged 103 innings. Alongside emerging starter Cade Cavalli and rebounding catcher Keibert Ruiz, the club views Abrams as a core element for their upcoming season.

What to watch next: Monitor whether Washington attempts to negotiate a multi-year extension with Abrams or if a rival front office presents an overwhelming trade package during the offseason.