The Washington Nationals are open to trading shortstop CJ Abrams in addition to left-handed starter MacKenzie Gore, sources told The Athletic's Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal.
While the Nationals will listen to inquiries about both players, the bar is reportedly high to acquire them.
Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni confirmed Monday that the bar is high, but he also said it would be "negligent" not to consider offers for Abrams and Gore and repeatedly used the word "open-minded," according to Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post.
Abrams is coming off a 2025 campaign where he slashed .257/.315/.433 with 19 home runs, 35 doubles, 60 RBIs, and 31 steals.
The 25-year-old is under club control until 2028 and projected to earn $5.6 million through arbitration this year, making him a more affordable option than Bo Bichette and Ha-Seong Kim - the top shortstops available in free agency.
Gore has been on the trade block this winter. More than half the league is showing interest in the left-hander, who's expected to be moved before Opening Day.
The southpaw put together a solid 2025 season, earning his first All-Star nod and finishing with a career-best 10.4 K/9 in 159 2/3 innings.
It's Toboni's first offseason with Washington. The Nationals traded closer Jose A. Ferrer to the Seattle Mariners on Saturday, acquiring top catching prospect Harry Ford in the deal.
