NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 08: New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman speaks to the media prior to the start of the game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on April 08, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

The New York Yankees have had an excellent start to the 2026 season. At the time of this writing, the Yankees have a 26-12 record and are at the top of the American League East standings. They have also won eight out of their last 10 games, so they are showing no signs of slowing down.

With how well the Yankees are playing this season, they are setting themselves up to be big buyers at the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline. It is no secret that the Yankees have World Series expectations, so they should be aggressive on the trade market. The Yankees are also not afraid to make bold moves.

One of the Yankees’ biggest needs at this point in the season is a star shortstop. Because of this, the Yankees are now being viewed as a top potential landing spot for one of baseball’s top trade candidates.

Yankees Named Top Potential Trade Destination for Nationals’ CJ Abrams

In a recent article for Sports Illustrated, Zach Pressnell looked at three potential trade destinations for Washington Nationals star infielder CJ Abrams. With the Yankees needing a major boost in their infield, they were understandably among the teams mentioned by Pressnell as a potential trade destination for Abrams.

“The New York Yankees need a shortstop as badly as any team in the league after demoting Anthony Volpe to the minor leagues. The Yankees need to go all in with Aaron Judge on the roster, and a trade for Abrams would fit that mold perfectly,” Pressnell wrote.

With the Yankees needing to improve at the shortstop position, it would make a lot of sense if they pursued Abrams ahead of the trade deadline. He would be an excellent addition to their roster, as he would give them another star to work with as they look to go on a real run this postseason.

Abrams is currently in the middle of a strong start to the 2026 season, which adds to his appeal. In 37 games so far this season with the Nationals, Abrams has nine home runs, 33 RBIs, and a .290 batting average. With numbers like these, the five-year veteran would be a fantastic addition to the Yankees’ roster if they successfully landed him from the Nationals.

Furthermore, with Abrams being only 25 years old, he is still young enough that he could get even better. Because of this, he is exactly the kind of high-impact player that the Yankees should strongly consider taking a flier on.

Yankees Are a Big Team to Watch From Here

With the Yankees being in win-now mode, it is clear that they are a team to keep an eye on in the trade market. Whether they target Abrams or go after other players, it would not be surprising in the slightest if they aggressively browse the trade market this season. They have multiple roster needs to address as they look to win their World Series since 2009.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Yankees successfully land Abrams this season. The fit looks strong on paper.