The Cards should go after CJ Abrams

[pitchingandefense]

I am completely aware that the Cards aren’t trying to compete in 2026, but 2027 seems like the goal to open their competitive window given the ages of the players and prospects currently in the organization.

CJ Abrams is just now entering his age 25 season despite the fact he already has three full seasons under his belt. He’s an athletic power-speed combo who doesn’t strike out a lot. One of his comps on B-R is Jimmy Rollins, who started off his career similar to Abrams before breaking out in his age 25 season. Abrams could be poised for a similar breakout as he enters his prime.

He is not a good defensive shortstop but seems to have the tools to be a very good second baseman. A young infield of Abrams at 2B, Winn at SS, JJ at 3B and Burleson at 1B would be dynamic and could be the core of the team for a decade.

The Nationals are entering yet another rebuild, so they are looking farther down the road. The Cardinals highly ranked minor league system aligns nicely to use some prospect depth to obtain a proven young major leaguer who would match nicely with the current young core.

[Cardinals1964]

Ok. Great idea.

[ggnoobs]

If I was shopping the Nationals roster I would try for James Wood over Abrams. But they probably want him for the next window.

[scoutyjones2]

I am completely aware that the Cards aren’t trying to compete in 2026, but 2027 seems like the goal to open their competitive window given the ages of the players and prospects currently in the organization.

CJ Abrams is just now entering his age 25 season despite the fact he already has three full seasons under his belt. He’s an athletic power-speed combo who doesn’t strike out a lot. One of his comps on B-R is Jimmy Rollins, who started off his career similar to Abrams before breaking out in his age 25 season. Abrams could be poised for a similar breakout as he enters his prime.

He is not a good defensive shortstop but seems to have the tools to be a very good second baseman. A young infield of Abrams at 2B, Winn at SS, JJ at 3B and Burleson at 1B would be dynamic and could be the core of the team for a decade.

The Nationals are entering yet another rebuild, so they are looking farther down the road. The Cardinals highly ranked minor league system aligns nicely to use some prospect depth to obtain a proven young major leaguer who would match nicely with the current young core.

This kid average 3.4 WAR a year and only a year older than Winn

[ICCFIM2]

If I was shopping the Nationals roster I would try for James Wood over Abrams. But they probably want him for the next window.

Both of them would be great gets. But, also aren't both the Nationals and the Cardinals not far enough into their rebuild to figure out what they need yet? Abrams BTV 52.9 and Woods BTV 50. What do the Cards have to trade for either of these guys? The Cards just built the farm system up to be top 2 in the MLs. To acquire either of those guys is going to require the Cards to empty part of that farm system out.

If I am the Nationals and the Cards want Wood as you suggest, my ask is going to be Liam Doyle 35.4 and Josh Baez 20 totaling 55.4. I probably do that trade if I am the Cards. But, I don't see it happening. If Baez turns out to be a 20/40 guy who puts up a 275/350/450 slash line and Doyle turns into a #2 who puts up 180 IP and a 3.2 FIP with 10SO/9 aren't the Cards better off not making that trade? i.e. the Cards end with a player Josh Baez who is not as good as Wood, but still a solid starting OF and Doyle is the best pitcher on their staff even if not quite an ace?

If the Cards can get Herrera, Baez, Wetherholdt and Burleson to all be in the 275/350/450-500 slashline range, they have a pretty good nucleas for a line-up. Really slightly better than what the Brewers are doing. The Brewers have paired that type of line-up with great SP. That is the model, then they need to hope they develop / can acquire a great MOTO hitter. I suppose your idea is that Wood is that. But, I think they need 5 hitters, not just 4. Rodriguez if he develops fast enough would be the 5th...

[Mort Gage]

What should the Cards be prepared to give up for a 25 yr old SS who has hovered around 3.5 bWAR the past three seasons?

[BleedingBleu]

While I appreciate the place the OP is coming from, I would only be interested in acquiring CJ Abrams if the Nationals were trying to get rid of him. The club is not in a place where they can look at someone’s roster and say “That’s the piece, we need that.”

You could probably make the argument the Cardinals aren’t even in a place where they can take advantage of some other franchise’s misfortunes by saying, “Oh, we’ll take that off your hands at a discount.” They really aren’t in a position where they should be dictating much outside of what Free Agent they should acquire.

At present, CJ Abrams would probably make the club better. However, what benefit does the 2026 Cardinals gain from adding a 25 year old going through Arbitration if the Gnats aren’t even willing to commit to such a player long term by buying out his arbitration years?

I’m unsure how arbitration & eligibility will go down if the owners lockout December 1st, but as it stands, Abrams would be Arb2 eligible next year. So, if this turd of a team does what I expect they’ll do in 2026 (suck to the scale of Top 5 Draft Pick), I don’t see the purpose in acquiring a CJ Abrams just to lose, lockout, then potentially overpay to retain an asset we barely know.

Look, this 2026 roster is a flaming bag of dogcrsp on our front doors that’s weak enough that we can ignore, but annoying enough that we’ll need to give it some kind of attention because it’s there and needs to be dealt with.

At this point, Bloom & Co are committed to the rebuild… all the way down to the foundation. We don’t care about the flaming bag of dogcrsp because all hands are in the basement patching cracks. When someone finally walks up to the front door, they won’t see the smoldering remains of the 2026 Roster. It’ll be a charred stain on concrete that hopefully someone places a nice enough “Welcome” mat over that people forget the house was ever a crack-den.

Then again, they’re more likely to walk outside with a “For Sale” sign and that “Welcome” mat is a cheap, temporary placeholder to cover-up the [censored] at the front door, but I’m trying to be optimistic while inexplicably awake at 4 AM on a Saturday Morning…

[Jeff Goldblum]

I actually like this idea. Under the radar solid player.

[sikeston bulldog2]

While I appreciate the place the OP is coming from, I would only be interested in acquiring CJ Abrams if the Nationals were trying to get rid of him. The club is not in a place where they can look at someone’s roster and say “That’s the piece, we need that.”

You could probably make the argument the Cardinals aren’t even in a place where they can take advantage of some other franchise’s misfortunes by saying, “Oh, we’ll take that off your hands at a discount.” They really aren’t in a position where they should be dictating much outside of what Free Agent they should acquire.

At present, CJ Abrams would probably make the club better. However, what benefit does the 2026 Cardinals gain from adding a 25 year old going through Arbitration if the Gnats aren’t even willing to commit to such a player long term by buying out his arbitration years?

I’m unsure how arbitration & eligibility will go down if the owners lockout December 1st, but as it stands, Abrams would be Arb2 eligible next year. So, if this turd of a team does what I expect they’ll do in 2026 (suck to the scale of Top 5 Draft Pick), I don’t see the purpose in acquiring a CJ Abrams just to lose, lockout, then potentially overpay to retain an asset we barely know.

Look, this 2026 roster is a flaming bag of dogcrsp on our front doors that’s weak enough that we can ignore, but annoying enough that we’ll need to give it some kind of attention because it’s there and needs to be dealt with.

At this point, Bloom & Co are committed to the rebuild… all the way down to the foundation. We don’t care about the flaming bag of dogcrsp because all hands are in the basement patching cracks. When someone finally walks up to the front door, they won’t see the smoldering remains of the 2026 Roster. It’ll be a charred stain on concrete that hopefully someone places a nice enough “Welcome” mat over that people forget the house was ever a crack-den.

Then again, they’re more likely to walk outside with a “For Sale” sign and that “Welcome” mat is a cheap, temporary placeholder to cover-up the [censored] at the front door, but I’m trying to be optimistic while inexplicably awake at 4 AM on a Saturday Morning…

4 in the morning. Came without a warning. Not a bad hour, just a bit lonely.

[butsir01]

5 below in Columbus. Yikes!

[sikeston bulldog2]

5 below in Columbus. Yikes!

Yea you got that northeast clipper. They say it’s bitter.

[BleedingBleu]

While I appreciate the place the OP is coming from, I would only be interested in acquiring CJ Abrams if the Nationals were trying to get rid of him. The club is not in a place where they can look at someone’s roster and say “That’s the piece, we need that.”

You could probably make the argument the Cardinals aren’t even in a place where they can take advantage of some other franchise’s misfortunes by saying, “Oh, we’ll take that off your hands at a discount.” They really aren’t in a position where they should be dictating much outside of what Free Agent they should acquire.

At present, CJ Abrams would probably make the club better. However, what benefit does the 2026 Cardinals gain from adding a 25 year old going through Arbitration if the Gnats aren’t even willing to commit to such a player long term by buying out his arbitration years?

I’m unsure how arbitration & eligibility will go down if the owners lockout December 1st, but as it stands, Abrams would be Arb2 eligible next year. So, if this turd of a team does what I expect they’ll do in 2026 (suck to the scale of Top 5 Draft Pick), I don’t see the purpose in acquiring a CJ Abrams just to lose, lockout, then potentially overpay to retain an asset we barely know.

Look, this 2026 roster is a flaming bag of dogcrsp on our front doors that’s weak enough that we can ignore, but annoying enough that we’ll need to give it some kind of attention because it’s there and needs to be dealt with.

At this point, Bloom & Co are committed to the rebuild… all the way down to the foundation. We don’t care about the flaming bag of dogcrsp because all hands are in the basement patching cracks. When someone finally walks up to the front door, they won’t see the smoldering remains of the 2026 Roster. It’ll be a charred stain on concrete that hopefully someone places a nice enough “Welcome” mat over that people forget the house was ever a crack-den.

Then again, they’re more likely to walk outside with a “For Sale” sign and that “Welcome” mat is a cheap, temporary placeholder to cover-up the [censored] at the front door, but I’m trying to be optimistic while inexplicably awake at 4 AM on a Saturday Morning…

4 in the morning. Came without a warning. Not a bad hour, just a bit lonely.

sour

[rockondlouie]

Why not a "Winn for Abrams" swap?

Nats get a gold glove SS making no money..............Cardinals get an offensive upgrade.

Abrams 2023-2025

57 HR
189 RBI's
109 SB's
.249 .310 .426 .736

Cardinals also get a legit lead-off hitter (something Winn isn't) w/a career .325 OB% hitting lead-off or he could hit 2nd behind JJW.

The Cardinals could play JJW at SS and Abrams at 2nd Base to avoid his poor play at SS.

What the Cardinals give up in defense (Winn: +2 DRS/+21 OAA -vs- Abrams -6 DRS/-11 OAA) they make up in offense.

[ecleme22]

Bad idea.

Now is not the time to trade prospects.

Also, CJ has only three years left of control. Since the cards are rebuilding in 2026, that season will be a waste.
Will 2027 be great for the cards? Not sure.

So the team may only start turning a corner in CJ’s last year. Not worth it…

I’m fine with our current SS and 2b…

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Nah. Masyn Winn is elite defensively and not far off offensively from Abram’s, if not close to equal. 104 wRC+ two years ago and 91 last year, a year in which he was dealing with a meniscus tear most of the season. In terms of fWAR, Winn was worth 3.6 and 3.5 the last two years, while Abram’s was 1.9 and 3.1.

On the topic of Winn, I saw a video on twitter the other day looking at all 3 errors he made last year. It was crazy, two were in no way errors, more the result of Contreras being inexperienced at 1B. The other wasn’t initially ruled an error, but got changed the next day. He basically had a perfect season defensively.

No, they need to extend Winn and let him and Wetherholt be your duo up the middle for the next decade. Upgrade elsewhere.

[pitchingandefense]

No, I wouldn’t trade Winn. He’s so good defensively and his offense looks like it could still have another gear.

It just looks like an opportunity to cash in some of our prospects who are farther away (Mitchell, Jesus Baez, Fajardo, Peete, etc.) to solidly the major league infield for a long time. The Nationals are farther away in their rebuild than the Cards are, hence why the Abrams rumors are out there.

You acquire Abrams and sign him, Winn and JJ long term. Then you have potential 4+ WAR players at 2B, 3B and SS who all came up as athletic shortstops, and none of them are older than 25.

You also are able to make this trade because of the depth in the minor leagues after all these trades and the number of picks in the upcoming draft.