C.J. Abrams, the Washington Nationals’ All-Star shortstop, was demoted to the minors after it was revealed he spent the night before a game at a Chicago casino. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, furious upon learning about Abrams’ late-night activities, took swift action, sending him to Triple-A Rochester for the remainder of the season. The decision came just hours after Abrams played in a Friday afternoon game at Wrigley Field, five hours after reportedly leaving the casino.
The Nationals officially announced Abrams’ demotion on Saturday morning before their game against the Chicago Cubs. Although he was optioned to Triple-A Rochester, the team’s season was set to end on Sunday, meaning Abrams will finish the year at the Nationals’ minor league complex in West Palm Beach, Florida. The demotion will cost Abrams roughly $30,000 in salary, but it will not affect his eligibility for arbitration as he has already accrued enough days on the major league roster.
Abrams, who has struggled with his performance in the second half of the season, has hit just .203 with a .326 slugging percentage. Despite these struggles, Nationals manager Davey Martinez emphasized that the demotion was not tied to his performance on the field. Martinez made the announcement the day after Abrams had a strong game, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and two stolen bases.
The tipping point came after a social media post surfaced, showing Abrams at Bally’s Casino in Chicago until 8 a.m. the day of Friday’s game. After Friday’s contest, where Abrams went hitless, he was called into Martinez’s office and questioned about the situation. Martinez later spoke to the media, making it clear that the demotion was due to internal matters and had nothing to do with Abrams’ on-field performance.
Martinez stressed that Abrams remains an important part of the Nationals’ future, despite this disciplinary action. While the manager chose not to divulge specific details, he made it clear that the team’s decision was made with the best interests of both Abrams and the Nationals in mind. The Nationals, through this move, aim to send a message about the importance of off-field conduct and accountability within the organization.
