Significant Moves by Paul Toboni
Paul Toboni took a major step during his first offseason overseeing baseball operations for the Nationals. The team traded MacKenzie Gore to the Rangers, acquiring a package of five prospects, led by last year’s 12th overall draft pick, Gavin Fien. Additionally, Washington traded high-potential reliever Jose A. Ferrer to the Mariners in exchange for rookie catcher Harry Ford early in the offseason.
Rebuilding Phase
The Nationals are still in the midst of a rebuild, as Toboni noted without explicitly using the term. “We need to be realistic,” he shared with reporters post-Gore trade (link via Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com). “It’s no secret we lost 96 games last season, and turning this around to make the playoffs in just one year is a tall order. Our goal is to lay a strong foundation so that when we do invest heavily, we can maintain success for an extended period.”
Rumors Surrounding Veterans
This statement naturally raises questions about other veteran players. Shortstop CJ Abrams has been a subject of trade rumors all offseason. According to Spencer Nusbaum, Andrew Golden, and Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post, the Nationals have explored trades for Abrams and center fielder Jacob Young during the winter months.
Trade Value for Abrams
In Abrams’ case, the situation may be more about semantics. The Nationals are open to hearing offers for the skilled infielder, who has attracted attention from multiple teams, including the Royals. The distinction between whether the Nats are initiating calls or merely responding to interest isn’t significant, as their asking price is high. Reports indicate that the team may demand a greater return for Abrams than they did for Gore.
Abrams’ Performance Insights
A key factor in this trade value is the control window. Gore is nearing the end of his arbitration eligibility, whereas Abrams has three years before hitting free agency. Moreover, Abrams is slightly less expensive at $4.2 million compared to Gore’s $5.6 million. The Nationals anticipate they will be competitive by 2028, even if this season isn’t a focus.
Young’s Value as a Trade Candidate
As for Young, he has not received as much trade consideration this offseason, overshadowed by bigger names. Even so, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has reported that teams have shown interest in Young for his affordable control and exceptional defensive skills. Although he had an underwhelming offensive season at .231/.296/.287, his defensive metrics are impressive, demonstrating a capability to significantly impact a game defensively.
