- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,152,127
- Reaction score
- 59
The Washington Nationals planned to trade him.
They let everyone know he was available.
If someone was willing to meet their price, 25-year-old shortstop C.J. Abrams was all theirs.
No one made an offer compelling enough to entice Paul Toboni, Nationals president of baseball operations, to move him, but instead of Abrams pouting when he arrived to spring training, he actually felt invigorated.
The key was the communication between Toboni and Abrams. Toboni was up-front with Abrams, telling him that they set a high bar for rivals if they wanted him, but if anything ever got close, he promised to let him know. And if Abrams had any questions, or wanted to confirm or dispel rumors, please call.
“It meant a lot," Abrams told USA TODAY Sports. “I was able to ignore things out there because I was in communication with Paul."
MLB EXPANSION: One owner thinks more teams would be 'stupid'
Said Toboni: “That’s something I tried doing with [starter] MacKenzie Gore too, and going forward I will keep doing that. They deserve to be in the know. I’ve come to realize that in most cases it’s not the fear of being traded, but what mostly bothers players is being completely in the dark. I never met a player, or a coach, or a front office guy who was too transparent."
“I told both of them if there’s something out there that just isn’t true, I’ll let you know. And if you have any questions, and there is some truth, we’ll talk about it," Toboni said. "I told MacKenzie there’s a world where you’re traded, and a world you’re not. We think super highly of you, so they’d have to clear a really high bar. If a team surpassed it, we’ll consider it. If not, you’ll be here."
The Texas Rangers met it, sending five prospects for Gore just three weeks before spring training.
Abrams stayed put, and becomes the best trade Toboni never made in his first season with the Nationals.
Abrams is playing his way right onto the All-Star team. He leads all National League shortstops in virtually every offensive category, hitting .291 with a .392 on-base percentage, .544 slugging percentage, .936 OPS, with 12 homers and 47 RBIs.
“He was really good before," Toboni said, “but now he’s turned himself into an awesome, awesome player. He’s working his tail off."
Abrams’ improved plate discipline has been the biggest difference in this season. He came into the year with a career .306 on-base percentage, averaging 35 walks and 130 strikeouts a season. This year, he has already drawn 27 walks with 49 strikeouts. And when pitches are in the zone, he’s taking advantage of it.
He has produced the most RBIs by a shortstop in his first two months of the season since Alex Rodriguez in 2002 with the Texas Rangers.
“I’m pretty proud of it," Abrams said, “because whenever that situation in the game comes, you got to get the job done. And just to be able to do that and help the team win is big."
Said Toboni: “The one thing that jumps out to me is that he seems to be especially clear-minded when he’s in those situations, and that leads to confidence. I think when young guys struggle, they start thinking of different things, and your timing is off. Where with CJ, he has a clear-minded approach what he wants to do. And when he is getting a pitch to hit, he’s not missing it."
Abrams’ resurgence has the Nationals winning again, off to their best start since 2018 with a 29-29 record, while leading the major leagues in runs scored.
“You know, in spring training, we saw the bats were alive," Abrams said, “and they haven’t gone anywhere since….We’ve had that consistency as a group. No matter what happens, we just keep going and pay attention to the right now, and keep working.
“So, I think we’re looking really good."
Now, after averaging 96 defeats the last five seasons with four last-place finishes, the Nationals see light at the end of the dark tunnel, and perhaps can be a contender much sooner than anyone believed.
If the Nats keep winning and hanging in the wild-card race, Abrams likely won’t be going anywhere. If they start to fade, well, maybe those trade rumors will surface again, only this time with even a higher price tag.
“We’ve got to see how these next couple of months go," Toboni says. “I’m not sure people expected us to be in a spot where we could make a run. We’ll see how the team plays, and how it comes together, and obviously that will influence our decision. We’ll figure it out."
For now, Abrams is a Nat. He should be representing the Nats at the All-Star Game. And he hopes to be wearing a Nats’ uniform when the time comes that they’re playing in October again.
“I mean, I’m still here, I’m with the Nats," Abrams said, “and I want to win with the Nats."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CJ Abrams locked in after Nationals didn't trade SS amid rumors
Continue reading...
They let everyone know he was available.
If someone was willing to meet their price, 25-year-old shortstop C.J. Abrams was all theirs.
No one made an offer compelling enough to entice Paul Toboni, Nationals president of baseball operations, to move him, but instead of Abrams pouting when he arrived to spring training, he actually felt invigorated.
The key was the communication between Toboni and Abrams. Toboni was up-front with Abrams, telling him that they set a high bar for rivals if they wanted him, but if anything ever got close, he promised to let him know. And if Abrams had any questions, or wanted to confirm or dispel rumors, please call.
“It meant a lot," Abrams told USA TODAY Sports. “I was able to ignore things out there because I was in communication with Paul."
MLB EXPANSION: One owner thinks more teams would be 'stupid'
Said Toboni: “That’s something I tried doing with [starter] MacKenzie Gore too, and going forward I will keep doing that. They deserve to be in the know. I’ve come to realize that in most cases it’s not the fear of being traded, but what mostly bothers players is being completely in the dark. I never met a player, or a coach, or a front office guy who was too transparent."
You must be registered for see images attach
“I told both of them if there’s something out there that just isn’t true, I’ll let you know. And if you have any questions, and there is some truth, we’ll talk about it," Toboni said. "I told MacKenzie there’s a world where you’re traded, and a world you’re not. We think super highly of you, so they’d have to clear a really high bar. If a team surpassed it, we’ll consider it. If not, you’ll be here."
The Texas Rangers met it, sending five prospects for Gore just three weeks before spring training.
Abrams stayed put, and becomes the best trade Toboni never made in his first season with the Nationals.
Abrams is playing his way right onto the All-Star team. He leads all National League shortstops in virtually every offensive category, hitting .291 with a .392 on-base percentage, .544 slugging percentage, .936 OPS, with 12 homers and 47 RBIs.
“He was really good before," Toboni said, “but now he’s turned himself into an awesome, awesome player. He’s working his tail off."
Abrams’ improved plate discipline has been the biggest difference in this season. He came into the year with a career .306 on-base percentage, averaging 35 walks and 130 strikeouts a season. This year, he has already drawn 27 walks with 49 strikeouts. And when pitches are in the zone, he’s taking advantage of it.
He has produced the most RBIs by a shortstop in his first two months of the season since Alex Rodriguez in 2002 with the Texas Rangers.
“I’m pretty proud of it," Abrams said, “because whenever that situation in the game comes, you got to get the job done. And just to be able to do that and help the team win is big."
Said Toboni: “The one thing that jumps out to me is that he seems to be especially clear-minded when he’s in those situations, and that leads to confidence. I think when young guys struggle, they start thinking of different things, and your timing is off. Where with CJ, he has a clear-minded approach what he wants to do. And when he is getting a pitch to hit, he’s not missing it."
Abrams’ resurgence has the Nationals winning again, off to their best start since 2018 with a 29-29 record, while leading the major leagues in runs scored.
“You know, in spring training, we saw the bats were alive," Abrams said, “and they haven’t gone anywhere since….We’ve had that consistency as a group. No matter what happens, we just keep going and pay attention to the right now, and keep working.
“So, I think we’re looking really good."
Now, after averaging 96 defeats the last five seasons with four last-place finishes, the Nationals see light at the end of the dark tunnel, and perhaps can be a contender much sooner than anyone believed.
If the Nats keep winning and hanging in the wild-card race, Abrams likely won’t be going anywhere. If they start to fade, well, maybe those trade rumors will surface again, only this time with even a higher price tag.
“We’ve got to see how these next couple of months go," Toboni says. “I’m not sure people expected us to be in a spot where we could make a run. We’ll see how the team plays, and how it comes together, and obviously that will influence our decision. We’ll figure it out."
For now, Abrams is a Nat. He should be representing the Nats at the All-Star Game. And he hopes to be wearing a Nats’ uniform when the time comes that they’re playing in October again.
“I mean, I’m still here, I’m with the Nats," Abrams said, “and I want to win with the Nats."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CJ Abrams locked in after Nationals didn't trade SS amid rumors
Continue reading...
