The Washington Nationals are closing out their season without their All-Star shortstop, CJ Abrams, following his surprising demotion to the minors last Saturday. The move means Abrams will miss the team’s final eight games, as the Nationals have already secured a losing record for the fifth straight year since their 2019 World Series victory.
Manager Davey Martinez and General Manager Mike Rizzo have clarified that Abrams' demotion, while unexpected for many fans, is not related to his on-field performance. "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; it was not performance-based. We felt it was in the best interest of the player and the organization to do so," stated Rizzo. "It's an internal issue that we're going to keep internal."
Strong Season Despite Demotion
Despite this decision, Abrams put up solid numbers over the course of the season. He ended the season with a batting line of .246/.314/.433, hitting 20 home runs and stealing 31 bases. Additionally, Abrams leads the Nationals with 3.4 WAR (Wins Above Replacement), making him one of the team's most valuable players this year.
However, Rizzo emphasized that the decision to demote Abrams was influenced by factors beyond performance. "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 him and his agent," Rizzo explained.
Financial and Service Time Considerations
The demotion will cost Abrams approximately $36,000 in salary, a non-negligible amount for any player. Despite this, the move bears no repercussions concerning his service time. Abrams has accumulated sufficient days on the MLB roster this season to secure a full year of service, ensuring his eligibility for arbitration and free agency remains unaffected.
Rizzo stressed the importance of organizational standards and maintaining team culture. "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 remarked. "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."
Nasim Nuñez Steps Up
In Abrams' absence, Nasim Nuñez has stepped up to fill the shortstop position. While Nuñez lacks the star power of Abrams, his ability to hold down the fort brings a level of stability during this challenging closing stretch of the season.
As the Nationals navigate these final games, the demotion of Abrams serves as a reminder of the complexities and internal matters that can influence roster decisions in professional sports. "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," Rizzo concluded.
The move underscores the challenges and responsibilities faced by both the players and the management as they work through a season full of ups and downs. The Nationals' management appears committed not just to the club's short-term success, but also to laying the foundations for future triumphs, even if it means making tough, unpopular decisions in the present.