Red Sox Digest: The CJ Abrams Pivot — Because Apparently “Almost” Is the Offseason Plan
When you miss on everyone else, eventually someone says the quiet part out loud
With spring training creeping closer and the 2026 season basically tapping the Red Sox on the shoulder asking, “So… what’s the plan here?”, Boston finds itself right where it has lived all winter: circling the trade market like a guy at a car dealership who keeps saying he’s “just looking.”
To their credit, the Red Sox have done something. They went shopping via trade, bringing in Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras, which at least proves the front office hasn’t gone full witness protection. Pitching help? Check. A catcher who can hit? Also check. An actual plan for the infield after striking out on every notable name? …hold that thought.
Because now, enter CJ Abrams. And not because Boston had this bold, visionary plan all along — but because enough people outside the organization have now said, “Guys… you might want to make a phone call.”
The Nationals, the Giants, and the Trade That Didn’t Happen
Earlier this offseason, the San Francisco Giants reportedly sniffed around Washington Nationals infielder CJ Abrams. According to reporting from The Athletic in late January, the Giants explored a deal — and then, like most offseason rumors, it quietly fizzled out.
Translation:
Abrams is available… just not being given away.
And that’s where this gets interesting, because availability is basically the only requirement Boston has left at this point.
Steve Phillips Says the Thing Everyone’s Thinking
On February 3, former MLB GM Steve Phillips went on MLB Network Radio and did something that has become increasingly rare in Red Sox discourse: he offered a solution instead of a shrug.
“The Red Sox need to pivot, call the Washington Nationals… and go get CJ Abrams to play second base. That’s the move for the Boston Red Sox.”
Oh. You mean make a decision? Bold concept.
Phillips didn’t sugarcoat it either. He called Abrams what he is:
A bad shortstop
A potentially very good second baseman
Which, frankly, is the most honest scouting report Boston has heard all winter.
Let’s Address the Elephant Wearing a #5 Jersey
CJ Abrams at shortstop?
No thank you. Hard pass. Keep it moving.
CJ Abrams at second base?
Now we’re talking.
Since debuting with Washington in 2022, Abrams has quietly put together respectable numbers:
.250 batting average
461 hits
57 home runs
271 runs scored
All before turning 26
Is he a superstar? No.
Is he a competent, athletic middle infielder with speed, pop, and upside? Absolutely.
And here’s the key part: he actually exists and is attainable — two qualities the Red Sox have apparently deprioritized this offseason.
The Bregman Miss That Still Echoes
Let’s not pretend this conversation is happening in a vacuum.
The Red Sox went all-in on Alex Bregman for exactly one season, then watched him pack his bags and head to the Chicago Cubs. One year. One rental. Zero long-term plan behind it.
And since then?
Bo Bichette: nope
Eugenio Suárez: nope
Nolan Arenado: nope
Brendan Donovan: nope
Boston didn’t just miss — they missed loudly, repeatedly, and in public.
Steve Phillips summed it up perfectly:
“They were in on everyone… and didn’t get any of them.”
That’s not strategy. That’s speed dating.
The “Pivot” Phase of the Offseason
This is the part of the offseason where front offices pretend Plan F was always the plan.
CJ Abrams now represents the Red Sox pivot — not because he’s perfect, but because he fits:
Middle infield need? ✔️
Age curve that aligns with the roster? ✔️
Tradeable without gutting the farm? ✔️
And perhaps most importantly: the Nationals might actually answer the phone.
The Toboni Connection (Yes, It Matters)
Phillips also highlighted something Boston fans should pay attention to: relationships.
Washington executive Paul Toboni has Red Sox roots. He knows the organization. He knows the types of players Boston likes, overvalues, and inexplicably refuses to include in deals.
In modern MLB, relationships don’t guarantee trades — but they do grease the wheels. And after an offseason defined by stalled conversations, that alone might be enough to matter.
Why Second Base Specifically Makes Sense
Here’s the reality Boston seems allergic to acknowledging:
You don’t need another shortstop experiment.
You need stability.
Abrams at second base gives you:
Speed at the top or middle of the lineup
Defensive competence without forcing him into the deep end
Insurance if shortstop becomes an issue — without pretending he’s the answer there
It’s not flashy. It’s functional. And after this offseason, functional would feel downright revolutionary.
Is CJ Abrams “The Move”?
No. He’s not the move.
But he’s a move. And at this point, that’s the bar.
The Red Sox don’t need another press conference about “remaining flexible.”
They don’t need another rumor about being “in on” someone.
They need to stop collecting almosts.
CJ Abrams won’t fix everything. But he fixes something, and that alone puts him ahead of half the offseason.
Final Thought: Do Something Before Spring Training Starts
Spring training is around the corner. Rosters are solidifying. Jobs are being won and lost.
At some point, the Red Sox need to stop behaving like the offseason is infinite.
If the Nationals are open.
If the price is reasonable.
If second base is still a problem (it is).
Then make the call.
Because if this winter ends with another “we explored options” quote, Red Sox fans already know how the season’s going to start — and it won’t be pretty.
Subscribe to Red Sox Digest for daily sarcasm, uncomfortable truths, and coverage that doesn’t pretend patience is a plan.