ORLANDO, FL — The Washington Nationals have aggressively been engaged in trade talks with teams involving All-Star pitcher MacKenzie Gore and shortstop CJ Abrams, with two general managers saying Monday morning that they now fully expect the two players to be traded.
Paul Toboni, the Nationals new president of baseball operations, informed teams weeks ago that they would listen to offers and after receiving heavy interest, now appear much more willing to part with the two players.
Teams, after seeing the high price for pitching on the free-agent market, have reached out to Washington in hopes to acquire Gore. The left-hander. 26, went 5-15 with a 4.17 ERA, striking out 185 batters in 159⅔ innings. He is under team control for two more years.
Abrams, 25, who still has three years of control, would be an option for teams who prefer to go a cheaper route than bidding on free agents Bo Bichette and Ha-Seong Kim. Abrams hit .257 with 19 homers and stole 31 bases last season.
The two players were key pieces in the Juan Soto trade in 2022 with the San Diego Padres, but instead of being part of the Nationals’ future, could be used to help rebuild the Nationals’ farm system. The Nationals traded left-handed reliever Jose Ferrer to the Seattle Mariners last week for prized catching prospect Harry Ford and minor league pitcher Isaac Lyon.
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