The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox form one of the biggest rivalries in the wide world of sports. For years, these two franchises have played against each other with pure dislike.
With that being said, there could be an interesting situation brewing as the 2026 MLB season gets underway.
Both the Yankees and Red Sox could end up being in the market to bring in a shortstop ahead of the 2026 season. If that is the case, there is a very realistic chance that the two front offices could be battling for the same rumored trade target.
That trade target would be none other than Washington Nationals‘ young shortstop CJ Abrams.
New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox Both Linked to CJ Abrams
MLB insider Jim Bowden of The Athletic took a look at a list of players who could be traded before Opening Day. When it came to Abrams, he mentioned both New York and Boston as potential landing spots for him.
“If the Nationals can deal Abrams for a package of three-to-five good prospects, that’s probably their best play to further their rebuild at this point,” Bowden wrote. “The Giants made a run at Abrams already and remain a potential match. Solid potential trade partners also include the Red Sox, Yankees, Padres and Mariners.”
Abrams would be a very intriguing trade target for any team with interest. He is just 25 years old and is coming off of an All-Star appearance during the 2025 season.
Speaking of his 2025 season, Abrams played in 144 games. He hit 19 home runs to go along with 60 RBI, while also stealing 31 bases and producing a slash line of .257/.315/.433.
The Yankees may already have their long-term answer at shortstop. Anthony Volpe will miss some of the start of the year due to injury, but he has the talent and potential to be a cornerstone for the team. However, they have yet to see him live up to the hype.
As for the Red Sox, they are fresh off of losing Alex Bregman in MLB free agency. Making a move for Abrams to improve the infield as a whole might be of interest.
This Could Be More of a Trade Deadline Situation
While either team could opt to pursue a trade for Abrams before Opening Day, it seems more likely that he could become a potential trade deadline target.
New York will likely want to get a look at Volpe this season before pursuing a replacement. Boston could look to sign a free agent like Eugenio Suarez before trading value to bring in a piece like Abrams.
Either way, these are two teams who make a lot of sense as trade partners for the Nationals. They’re both going to be worth monitoring closely as the weeks move forward.
At the end of the day, there could be a trade war brewing between two bitter rivals when it comes to Abrams’ future.
Yankees, Red Sox Could Battle for Rumored Trade Target