MLB Trade Rumors: All-Star Infielder Heads to Braves in Proposed Deal

The Atlanta Braves have had trouble finding a long-term solution at shortstop. Orlando Arcia did the job for a couple of years after Dansby Swanson left after the 2022 season. But Arcia faded fast offensively, and was DFA'd by the Braves last season.

They brought in Ha-Seong Kim late in the year, then signed him to a one-year, $20 million contract for 2026. However, Kim's health has been a problem for three straight years now. This winter, he slipped on ice, tearing a tendon in his right middle finger. He's expected to need four-to-five months to recover, which should keep him out until at least midseason.

A proposed trade with the Washington Nationals would bring the Braves an All-Star solution, in CJ Abrams of the Washington Nationals. David Schoenfield of ESPN has suggested this hypothetical deal to make it happen:

Atlanta Braves receive:

CJ Abrams, SS

Washington Nationals receive:

LHP Cam Caminiti (Braves #1 prospect)
RHP Didier Fuentes (#3 prospect)
IF Nacho Alvarez Jr.

The Braves get their starting shortstop of the future, though pay a heavy price to get him. Abrams was an All-Star in 2024, and has had almost identical stats for three straight seasons: right around 20 homers, 65 RBIs and an OPS+ averaging just above league-average. He stole 31 bases in each of the last two seasons, and 47 the year before that.

This would be a massive haul for the Nats, getting two of the Braves' top three prospects.

Caminiti (No. 53) and Fuentes (No. 88) are both top 100 pitching prospects in all of baseball. Alvarez Jr. is a top infield power prospect, who missed much of 2025 due to injuries, but had a strong Arizona Fall League.

For the Nationals, trading a young up-and-comer like Abrams (who they got in the Juan Soto deal a few years back) might seem counterproductive for a rebuilding team. But, as Schoenfield writes, "Abrams has three seasons of team control, which arguably makes him expendable for the starting-from-scratch-again Nationals. They're not going anywhere this season and they're not going anywhere next season."