The Washington Nationals will conclude their season without their standout shortstop, CJ Abrams, who has been demoted to the minors. This decision comes as the Nationals face another disappointing year, marking their fifth consecutive losing season since their 2019 World Series victory.
Abrams, who has been a key player for the team, finished the season with a .246/.314/.433 batting line, along with 20 home runs and 31 stolen bases. Despite his contributions, General Manager Mike Rizzo clarified that the demotion was not due to performance issues. “He was optioned to Triple-A, like a lot of players are. I'm just going to tell you what we've said in the media before, is that it was not performance-based. We felt it was in the best interest of the player and the organization to do so. It's an internal issue that we're going to keep internal,” Rizzo explained.
The decision, however, does have financial repercussions for Abrams, who will lose approximately $36,000 in salary due to his time in the minors. Nonetheless, there are no service-time ramifications for Abrams, as he has already accrued enough days on the MLB roster this season to secure a full year of service time, thus maintaining his eligibility for future arbitration and free agency.
Rizzo further elaborated on the reasons behind the demotion, emphasizing its non-performance-related nature. “It’s a family matter that we keep in the family. Suffice to say, it's not the end of the world for CJ. It's not the end of the world for the Nationals. It's something that happens over the course of time, especially with young players. And we love CJ. We care for CJ. We're in constant communication with he and his agent," Rizzo stated.
Manager Davey Martinez also echoed this sentiment, highlighting the team’s standards and the importance of upholding them. “We have a standard here with the Nationals. When players don't reach those standards, we have to do what's in the best interest of the organization. But often, these things are done with the best interest of the player involved," Rizzo said.
In the absence of Abrams, Nasim Nuñez has stepped into the shortstop role. The Nationals are optimistic about Nuñez’s ability to fill the void and contribute to the team. This substitution marks a significant adaptation as the team continues to navigate the challenges of rebuilding.
Rizzo concluded with a broader perspective on the situation. “It's about teamwork and being a great teammate. When players fail to reach those standards, we have to do something to get them back into the mode of Nationals and teammate and big leagues and that type of thing. We felt it was warranted in this case. It’s part of the process, especially on young rebuilding teams that these things happen. It's not the first time we've done it here with the Nationals, and probably, unfortunately, won’t be the last."
The Nationals face the close of another challenging season, focusing on the long-term development of their roster and maintaining their organizational standards. The demotion of CJ Abrams serves as a reminder of the complex dynamics within professional baseball, where off-field considerations can be as pivotal as on-field performance. While Abrams takes a step back to the minors, the Nationals look ahead to the future, with hopes that their young talent will continue to grow and thrive in the seasons to come.