Shea Langeliers injury clouds MLB trade deadline chatter
ESPN reports Shea Langeliers could miss the rest of 2026, while The Athletic says the Nationals will listen on CJ Abrams.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
The Shea Langeliers injury has landed right in the middle of MLB trade deadline week. ESPN reports the Athletics’ All-Star catcher could miss the rest of the 2026 season with a torn meniscus in his right knee, and the team placed him on the injured list Sunday.
According to ESPN, Langeliers was hurt while running the bases Saturday. He still finished the game and caught all nine innings, but he is now weighing whether to undergo surgery.
The timing is rough for a player who had been part of deadline speculation. CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa reported that Langeliers, 28, had been viewed as a possible trade piece for an Athletics club that could use him to help improve its pitching staff. He is under team control through 2028.
Will Shea Langeliers be traded after his injury?
A player can be traded while on the injured list, but Axisa wrote that it is unlikely another club would meet Oakland’s price if Langeliers is not expected to play again this season. If the Athletics do move him, Axisa framed the offseason as the more likely window.
Langeliers’ market was not the only one buzzing Sunday. The Athletic reports that the Nationals are not actively trying to trade All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams, but they are willing to hear what other teams have to say.
The Athletic reported that the Yankees have already checked on Abrams, and that the Brewers are expected to do the same. Abrams is 25, in the middle of a breakout season and also under team control through 2028, which would make any deal expensive for a buyer.
For the Yankees, Abrams would address a clear trouble spot. CBS Sports noted that New York has not received much offense from its José Caballero and Anthony Volpe shortstop pairing.
Milwaukee has a different angle. CBS Sports reported that the Brewers have several young middle infielders, including Jesús Made, Luis Peña, Cooper Pratt and Jett Williams, but Abrams would offer immediate power for a team trying to win now.
The Padres also surfaced in the rumor mill despite sitting only three games out of a wild-card spot. USA Today reports that San Diego could trade right-hander Michael King, its top starter.
King’s contract includes a $28 million player option for 2027 and a $30 million player option for 2028, according to USA Today. CBS Sports noted that those options make any trade more complicated because King could decline the first option and return to free agency after the season, or use it in talks on a new deal.
King would still have obvious appeal to contenders looking for pitching. CBS Sports pointed to his experience as both a starter and reliever, while noting that any team acquiring him would likely have to pay the price for a starter.
The deadline activity has already started. CBS Sports reported that the Red Sox sent left-hander Connelly Early to the Nationals for infielder Curtis Mead in a one-for-one trade Saturday night, with more deals expected as the deadline nears.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.