Would Love to Find a Way to Get CJ Abrams

[Manny Trillos Brother]

MLBTR reporting that the Nats are open to trading CJ Abrams. He's 25 years old and has put up ~2.5 WAR the last few years playing for the MLB team that is literally the worst in terms of player development. Has been Top 10 in steals and doesn't strike out much by 2025 standards. Under team control for 3 more years and makes just north of $5m.

His most glaring offensive flaw is plate discipline with a 35% O-Swing% - the good thing is the Cubs were Top-10 in Baseball Savant's In-zone swing % and chase %. They should be able to reduce that deficiency a noticeable amount. 

He's a SS by trade, but has had some defensive issues (another thing the Cubs are good at improving). I'd slot him in as a Zobrist-type super-sub/10th man/Shaw insurance and just see what he can do. I also don't think it would take "top dollar" to pry him away from the Nats - maybe an Alcantara or Birdsell+ type package which I could 100% live with.

[CubinNY]

They'd have to put him on a curfew, lol.  

[Tryptamine]

1 hour ago, Manny Trillos Brother said:

MLBTR reporting that the Nats are open to trading CJ Abrams. He's 25 years old and has put up ~2.5 WAR the last few years playing for the MLB team that is literally the worst in terms of player development. Has been Top 10 in steals and doesn't strike out much by 2025 standards. Under team control for 3 more years and makes just north of $5m.

His most glaring offensive flaw is plate discipline with a 35% O-Swing% - the good thing is the Cubs were Top-10 in Baseball Savant's In-zone swing % and chase %. They should be able to reduce that deficiency a noticeable amount. 

He's a SS by trade, but has had some defensive issues (another thing the Cubs are good at improving). I'd slot him in as a Zobrist-type super-sub/10th man/Shaw insurance and just see what he can do. I also don't think it would take "top dollar" to pry him away from the Nats - maybe an Alcantara or Birdsell+ type package which I could 100% live with.

I think you're significantly underestimating the package it would cost. 

[Sosa21MVP]

I don't have anything productive to add to this thread other than I love the username. Manny Trillo hit a walk-off HR in the first game I attended at Wrigley Field. 

[cubfansince77]

On 11/16/2025 at 8:58 PM, Sosa21MVP said:

I don't have anything productive to add to this thread other than I love the username. Manny Trillo hit a walk-off HR in the first game I attended at Wrigley Field. 

You might be old (you are) if you saw Manny Trillo play. LOL, I remember coming home from school in 2nd grade and watching him play. (yep...I'm old too)

[Sosa21MVP]

3 hours ago, cubfansince77 said:

You might be old (you are) if you saw Manny Trillo play. LOL, I remember coming home from school in 2nd grade and watching him play. (yep...I'm old too)

Yeah it was 1987, I was a 5th grader at the time. Keith Moreland hit a home run that day as well. I was most excited about seeing Andre Dawson play, he was my first favorite Cub. I had an Andre's Army t-shirt.

[BKHoo]

On 11/14/2025 at 2:04 PM, Tryptamine said:

I think you're significantly underestimating the package it would cost. 

That and he is not a good defensive player. No thanks. I’m not sure how he changes the team that much except it would gut the farm. 

[Manny Trillos Brother]

Love that this idea made the front page. I could see a big deal for Gore & Abrams.

Would it gut the system? Maybe - but I think the Cubs are well-positioned for a several-for-one trade, especially if Shaw is on the table. 8 of the Cubs top 10 prospects are at AAA or have touched MLB, I think that timeline appeals to teams. None of the Cubs' farm is really "untouchable", but there are several guys you can dream on. 

Looking at comparable trade values, ChatGPT gives me Caissie, Wiggins, Shaw & Alcantara as comparable value for the pair. I, frankly, think I could live with that, though I would try to sell then on Ben Brown or Jon Long over one of the OFs because that's where we might need depth. 

[Rcal10]

43 minutes ago, Manny Trillos Brother said:

Love that this idea made the front page. I could see a big deal for Gore & Abrams.

Would it gut the system? Maybe - but I think the Cubs are well-positioned for a several-for-one trade, especially if Shaw is on the table. 8 of the Cubs top 10 prospects are at AAA or have touched MLB, I think that timeline appeals to teams. None of the Cubs' farm is really "untouchable", but there are several guys you can dream on. 

Looking at comparable trade values, ChatGPT gives me Caissie, Wiggins, Shaw & Alcantara as comparable value for the pair. I, frankly, think I could live with that, though I would try to sell then on Ben Brown or Jon Long over one of the OFs because that's where we might need depth. 

That is a lot for 2 years of Gore(one of which could be shortened by a lockout) and Abrams. 

[Manny Trillos Brother]

Totally agree, BUT 1. It fits our needs very well both financially and player-skill wise, 2. I think there is some value there in terms of player development that the Cubs can mine out & 3. As mentioned, many of our top prospects are knocking at the door - I think we need "to do something" with them before they start to (fairly or unfairly) lose value. 

With the Twins saying they aren't trading Ryan & the Marlins positional talent mainly unproven, the Nats seem like the only real fit for one-stop-shopping via trade.

*I'm also not as concerned about the lockout, I think they figure out a way to keep making millions/billions of dollars.

**If someone is more concerned about the lockout, I'd think you'd really want to gut the top levels of the farm to go all in, figuring you now have two years to develop the talent at the lower levels.

[Rcal10]

3 hours ago, Manny Trillos Brother said:

Totally agree, BUT 1. It fits our needs very well both financially and player-skill wise, 2. I think there is some value there in terms of player development that the Cubs can mine out & 3. As mentioned, many of our top prospects are knocking at the door - I think we need "to do something" with them before they start to (fairly or unfairly) lose value. 

With the Twins saying they aren't trading Ryan & the Marlins positional talent mainly unproven, the Nats seem like the only real fit for one-stop-shopping via trade.

*I'm also not as concerned about the lockout, I think they figure out a way to keep making millions/billions of dollars.

**If someone is more concerned about the lockout, I'd think you'd really want to gut the top levels of the farm to go all in, figuring you now have two years to develop the talent at the lower levels.

Abrams only has 3 years of control. And didn’t the Nats sent him down last year for disipliary reasons? I seem to remember something going on with him. Is him at 3rd base really that large an upgrade over Shaw? Maybe short term it is, but losing Shaw who has 6 years of control and Wiggins who also has 6 years of control and the adding 2 outfielders who also have 6 years of control left is too much.