The Washington Nationals have demoted All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams to the minor leagues following an incident in which he reportedly spent the night at a Chicago-area casino before a day game against the Chicago Cubs. Manager Dave Martinez stated that the decision to send Abrams down was “the right thing to do.”
Abrams, 23, led off for the Nationals during the game against the Cubs, where he went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout as the game began at 1 p.m. CT. He will be assigned to the Nationals’ minor league complex located in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Martinez confirmed the demotion but characterized it as an internal issue. He mentioned having a lengthy and emotional conversation with Abrams on Friday, expressing his support for him. “For me, it’s about taking care of the person first, and not the player, and I’m going to do everything I can to help him,” Martinez said after the Nationals’ 5-1 victory. He expressed his affection for Abrams, underscoring that he is a “good kid” who will return to the team.
Since Abrams has been with the team for the entire season, the demotion will not impact his service time. Players require 172 days on the major league roster to earn a full year of service, and Abrams has already surpassed that figure. Nonetheless, he could potentially file a grievance through the Major League Baseball Players Association if he believes the demotion is unwarranted, which could result in a loss of approximately $30,000 from his $752,000 salary for the last week of the season. He is set to become arbitration-eligible this winter as a Super 2.
Teammate MacKenzie Gore, who shared a close bond with Abrams after both players joined the Nationals from the Padres, expressed his difficulty in discussing the situation. “It’s a tough situation for me, and I’m always going to be for CJ there in this situation,” he said. “It’s tough, because we’re close; he’s family and you lose your best player.”
Martinez viewed this situation as a chance for Abrams to grow. “I’m hoping that he understands and that he becomes a better person and understands what his job means here for us, the Nats family,” he noted. “We’re going to get it right, and he’s going to help us win games.”
Abrams was acquired as a key piece in the Juan Soto trade two years ago and had a remarkable first half of the season, hitting .268/.343/.489 with 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases in 89 games, which earned him an All-Star selection. However, he faced difficulties in the second half with a batting line of .203/.260/.326, and his defense has been a concern throughout the year. The demotion was not initially planned until the team learned about his late-night activities, as first reported by CHGO.