Fascinating infield trade target is right in Mariners' face after Rangers deal

Mariners fans are still waiting for the organization to make a big move, and with less than three weeks to go until pitchers and catchers report in Peoria, concern is growing that no such move is coming. Brendan Donovan remains the main target — at least according to various reports — but the 2025 All-Star is still a St. Louis Cardinal at the time of writing.

If the Mariners don't end up acquiring Donovan, it does lead to the question of who Jerry Dipoto and company might pivot towards in order to boost a lineup which could still use one more quality player. There has been some talk about a reunion with Eugenio Suárez, but perhaps (or maybe as well as) another player who makes for an intriguing potential target is CJ Abrams.

As per Mark Zuckerman of MASN, Washington Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni acknowledged throughout the winter he would consider dealing both Abrams and MacKenzie Gore. Well, with 2025 All-Star lefty Gore now traded to the Texas Rangers in a blockbuster deal, teams can focus solely on his former teammate.

Things not as they may seem with CJ Abrams

At first glance, we can appreciate why people might not be too sold on Abrams, especially when you consider his Statcast page on Baseball Savant is mostly blue. However, dig deeper and there is at least some reason for encouragement about the prospect of him suiting up in Mariners uniform.

The 25-year-old has averaged around a 3.5 bWAR over the last three seasons and in 2024 set single-season highs with 20 home runs and 65 RBI as he earned the first All-Star selection of his career. While still not a prolific bat, he continues to gradually improve at the plate, as evidenced last year by a .257 batting average, .748 OPS and 111 OPS+ which were all his best yet in the majors.

Critics will point towards Abrams being a bad defender at shortstop, but he wouldn't be needed at the position in Seattle anyway with J.P. Crawford still the mainstay, at least until Colt Emerson is ready. Instead he could prove to be a potential plus at second base (where he does have a little experience), helped by his decent speed.

Mariners would need to decide between potential and results

If the Mariners were to take a gamble with Abram, it does understandably lead to the question of what to do with Cole Young who, as things stand, is projected to open the season at second base. Drafted 21st overall in 20022, Young made his Major League debut last season and while he did struggle more often than not, big things are still predicted for him in the future.

At the same time, all the potential in the world doesn't come with any guarantees and the reality is that Abram is more of a sure thing at this stage. In fact, with Zuckerman noting Toboni's asking price is high, you can at least wonder about a scenario where Young is part of any potential deal between the Mariners and Nationals.

It can't hurt that there's some familiarity between the two organizations with the M's and Nats already completing one deal this offseason, even if some still debate if it was worth giving up Harry Ford in order to obtain reliever Jose A. Ferrer. As a final note, while Donovan would still arguably be the preference for the Mariners, they would have more club control with Abrams through 2028.