Will The Washington Nationals HOLD Or SHOP Star SS CJ Abrams In 2026?

Washington Nationals face a franchise-altering decision: will CJ Abrams become their long-term cornerstone or a trade asset as 2026 approaches? With the potential for a blockbuster 30-40 season, Abrams’s consistency and power surge spark debate over his future in D.C. Could Seaver King’s defensive prowess or Eli Willits’s arrival influence the Nationals’ path at shortstop? The growing analytics investment and shifting roster priorities leave fans wondering which direction the team will take. Ryan Clary spotlights Blake Butera, the 33-year-old manager with roots in the Tampa Bay Rays system, ushering in a youth movement that matches the energy of prospects like James Wood and Brady House. Catcher Harry Ford’s rise and overlooked standout Drew Millas are poised to disrupt the lineup, raising questions about Keibert Ruiz’s role. Are the Nationals ready to prioritize their best talent over contract commitments, or will promising players get left behind in the shuffle?00:00 "CJ Abrams’ Future Uncertain"03:41 CJ's Surprising Power Potential09:02 "Seaver King's Path to MLB"11:41 "Seaver King's MLB Potential"13:00 "Blake Butera's Youth"18:07 "Nationals' Youth Movement and Leadership"22:29 "Finding the Right Candidates"23:59 "Dark Horse: Drew Millas"27:13 Nationals' Roster FrustrationFollow Ryan Clary on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ryanclary11Follow Locked On Nationals on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LO_Nationals Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Turbo TaxFor a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Take taxes off your plate and get back to your life. Visit https://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today. IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcastFanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The Winter Games are on. And there’s no better way to follow them than with a bet on FanDuel. FanDuel - Play your game. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.