Nationals Demote All-Star Shortstop C.J. Abrams After Casino Visit

C.J. Abrams, an All-Star shortstop for the Washington Nationals, has been demoted to the minor leagues after staying out all night at a Chicago-area casino, according to sources familiar with the situation. The news was first reported by ESPN‘s Jesse Rogers.

Abrams, who is 23 years old, was leading off for the Nationals in a game against the Chicago Cubs and went hitless in three at-bats, drawing one walk and striking out once. The game commenced at 1 p.m. Central Time on Friday, and it was later that night that Abrams was informed of his demotion. He will be sent to the Nationals’ minor league complex in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Having spent the entire season with Washington, Abrams’ demotion will not affect his service time in Major League Baseball (MLB). Players accumulate a full year of service with 172 days on the major league roster, and Abrams has already surpassed this benchmark. However, Abrams has the option to file a grievance through the Major League Baseball Players Association to contest the demotion if he deems it unjust. The demotion could cost him approximately $30,000 of his $752,000 salary, as he will miss the final week of the season. Abrams is set to become arbitration-eligible this winter, marking the first of four times as a ‘Super 2’ player.

Abrams was acquired by the Nationals as a key component in a trade two years ago. He had a standout first half of this season, earning an All-Star selection with a batting average of .268, an on-base percentage of .343, and slugging .489, hitting 15 home runs and swiping 15 bases in the Nationals’ first 89 games. However, Abrams encountered considerable struggles in the second half, with his performance dipping to a .203 batting average, .260 on-base percentage, and .326 slugging percentage. Throughout the season, his defensive performance has also been identified as an area of concern.

The Nationals initially had no plans to move Abrams to the minors until they were informed of his casino visit, which was first reported by CHGO. Nationals manager Dave Martinez stated, “I just want it to be known it wasn’t performance-based,” emphasizing that the demotion resulted from an ‘internal issue’ without providing further specifics.

Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo responded to inquiries about Abrams’ casino visit, telling The Athletic, “We’re all aware of the report but beyond that, it’s an internal issue that we will keep in the family.” The timing of the demotion drew attention because the Triple-A season will conclude shortly, implying that the decision was aimed more at delivering a message to Abrams, rather than impacting his career status. Abrams will continue his activities in West Palm Beach as the Nationals have recalled another infielder to fill his position.