In a surprising move, the Nationals optioned shortstop CJ Abrams to Triple-A Rochester, the Athletic’s Britt Ghiroli reports (via X). Infielder Trey Lipscomb is being called up in the corresponding move, as per The Washington Post’s Andrew Golden (X link).
Nationals manager Davey Martinez told reporters (including Golden and MASNsports.com’s Dan Kolko) that Abrams was optioned not for his play on the field, but rather “an internal issue” matter that Martinez didn’t discuss in further detail. Abrams will report not to Rochester for the last two games of the Triple-A season but will instead go to the Nats’ spring camp in Florida to work out. Martinez confirmed that Abrams wouldn’t appear in the majors again in 2024, but remains a big piece of the organization’s present and future.
It was just over two months that Abrams was representing the Nationals in the All-Star Game, as the 23-year-old was named to the NL squad as a reward for his outstanding first half. Abrams hit .268/.343/.489 with 15 home runs in 398 plate appearances prior to the All-Star break, and looked all the world like a breakout player in his age-23 season. As the sixth overall pick of the 2019 draft and the centerpiece of the trade package Washington received from the Padres in the Juan Soto trade, Abrams has long been seen as a future star, and the early returns of his 2024 season looked like a big step forward from his respectable performance in 2023, his first full MLB campaign.
Since the Midsummer Classic, however, Abrams’ production has tailed off. The shortstop has hit only .203/.260/.326 in 204 PA during the second half, and gone yard only five times. Abrams’ strikeout rate has risen from 20.1% in the first half to 23.53% in the second half, and his line drive rate plummeted from 23.6% to 7.8%. This decline in hard contact indicates that Abrams’ .243 BABIP since the All-Star break is more than just bad batted-ball luck, and his .307 BABIP in the first half wasn’t too far above league average anyways.
This extended slump notwithstanding, it is clear that Abrams wouldn’t have been sent down if it wasn’t for this off-the-field issue. Whatever the circumstances, the club deemed the situation serious enough to send this public message to Abrams as something of a wake-up call or a punishment. There is bound to be some speculation that the Nats might now look to trade Abrams, yet Martinez’s comments about Abrams’ importance to Washington’s future seemed designed to end such speculation before it even got off the ground. Going forward, Martinez feels Abrams “will be better” in the aftermath of the option.
Missing the last nine days of the 2024 season shouldn’t have any impact on Abrams’ Super Two eligibility. As a reminder, “Super Two” players have less than three years of MLB service time, but sit in the top 22 percent of service time of all players between two and three years, and as such are awarded an extra year of arbitration eligibility. Abrams entered the 2024 campaign with one year and 130 days of service time, and thus a full season on Washington’s active roster would’ve put him at the 2.130 mark — almost surely qualifying him for Super Two status based on the cutoff points over the last 15 years.
However, a player only needs to be on an active roster or the Major League injured list for 172 days of the 187-day season to qualify as having received one full year of official service time. As such, since Abrams has already been with the Nationals beyond the 172-day threshold, he has achieved one full year of service time for 2024 and remains on track to be a Super Two player.
Drewnasty65
Woah
MLB Top 100 Commenter
They sent CJ down and they kept Patrick Corbin on the roster.
RunDMC
Can Corbin be sent down? Even so, he is a free agent, so that’s polishing brass on the Titanic. Like Stras, only think of value left from that deal is having a good memory for future deals.
truthlemonade
Corbin can just be released. This is his final season under contract.
Rally Goose
They can’t sent Corbin down without his consent.
JoeBrady
Abrams was optioned not for his production,
chiefnocahoma1
Corbin didn’t stay up til 8AM on game day LMAO
Baseball Babe
Um, they made it clear this wasn’t about on field performance. Corbin has been a standup teammate and competitor. He takes the ball every single time, then faces the media and accepts responsibility good or bad. Pretty much the opposite of this situation.
horaceallen
Wrong move. Corbin Carroll was miserable for months to start the year. Dbacks stuck with him and it has paid off. Nats crushing his confidence and for no reason.
JoeBrady
Abrams was optioned not for his production,
dcfan78
Makes me wonder if anyone actually reads the full article. It does quite clearly say not for his production.
padam
Reading is fundamental.
Captainmike1
People do not read, they skim and learn little
BaseballisLife
Which we all know is BS. His lack of production is exactly why he is being sent down. His lack of production may be a result of some other issue like gambling or alcohol which is why they are choosing to do it now.
layventsky
His lack of production is not the reason why he was sent down. He violated the team curfew by staying at a casino until 8AM.
layventsky
Correct. They then jump to the wrong conclusions and post on social media, propagating the spread of misinformation.
Larry Brown's crank
thank god….JoeBrady is on the case
horaceallen
Typical condescending response to someone who commented on the initial shorter article.
stuart schlotterbeck
You don’t even know why he was sent down, only that it’s an off-field matter. It could be a mental health issue, substance abuse, a family matter, etc. If that’s the case, it’s better to address the issue now than in Spring Training. And it’s not like the Nats have anything to play for the rest of the season.
BillTheThrill10
He was sent down as a punishment for staying past curfew on a game day. He was at the casino til 8am, that’s his punishment is getting sent down.
stymeedone
@horace
Nationals are not crushing his confidence. They are getting his attention.
momTurphy
Trying to avoid super 2 status??? He’s been playing better in September than most of the year.
deepseamonster32
He’s already accrued a full season’s service time.
Armaments216
I think by this point in the season he already has a full year of service for 2024. It shouldn’t affect anything with his arbitration or free agency timeline.
brewpackbuckbadg
Does it make a difference if he is not up for a while next year too?
Armaments216
No, this shouldn’t have any long term effects. Shouldn’t even burn an option year since it’s for such a short time. Probably costs him a little pay though.
JoeBrady
“Missing this last week of the 2024 season shouldn’t have any impact on Abrams’ eligibility for Super Two status. ”
It’s in the article.
deepseamonster32
We all commented on the shorter, initial article.
hrush28
??????????????????????????
ohyeadam
Is his defense really that bad? Trying him at 3B or 2B? OF?
truthlemonade
The AAA season ends on Sunday. This seems like a punishment for off the field activity.
Brick House Coffee Tables Inc
But doesn’t the AAA season end on Sunday? So is this just a way to give him two days off and get an extra player on the roster?
jimmuscomp
I hope that’s it. That’s the only thing that makes sense.
Brick House Coffee Tables Inc
Probably a minor injury, not enough to put him on the IL and end his season.
Michael Chaney
They have two more roster spots in September and aren’t making the playoffs, so they could afford to play a man down for a week.
If he was actually injured and they sent him down, they’d absolutely be getting a grievance filed against them.
deepseamonster32
BHCTInc, they can’t recall him for 10 days, barring an injury replacement.
Armaments216
If they put him on the IL his season would be over. This way they can recall him if needed as an injury replacement.
jbigz12
This feels like he did something off the field to piss someone off.
layventsky
He did. He violated a team policy.
bjhaas1977
Linder fans are disappointed yet again!
bjhaas1977
Lindor
TrumpisMyGawd
Stepped on it bro
JoeBrady
I’m disappointed I didn’t draft him in my rotisserie league.
bhambrave
Disrespect.
Rsox
What kind of service time manipulation is this supposed to be?
deepseamonster32
None. He already completed 172+ days.
cpdpoet
Uh oh……
SanDiegoSuperDissapointingPadres
Hey, if the Nat’s want they can send him back home to SD! Bogarts has been below or at average at best throughout his contract with the Padres.
I Believe We Can Win
4.4 war last year is below average?
stymeedone
You tell me. What does XB average? It could very well be below average for him.
PadreB2011
What an idiotic comment!
davemlaw
Hoping Abrams asks to be traded in the offseason.
Nats handled this badly. You don’t do this to a young star.
The guy has hit .500 over the last 7 days! 3.4 WAR on the year.
Nats, you messed up!
SF Giants are ready to send you Luciano and a couple nice young pitchers RIGHT NOW.
Travis’ Wood
Lol
TrumpisMyGawd
Send us Bryce and it’s a done deal.
TrumpisMyGawd
He’s been warned multiple times about off-field stuff.
JoeBrady
davemlaw34 mins ago
Nats handled this badly. You don’t do this to a young star.
=========================
Just asking for society in general, but shouldn’t you find out what happened before passing judgement?
stymeedone
@joebrady
What will you be demanding next? That people read the article before posting?
Jack Bruno
Abrams was allegedly at a Chicago-area casino all night on Thursday into Friday morning…if true, it’s safe to say that Abrams didn’t handle it well.
ThatOneCubFan
Before we start digging at the Nats,
Apparently, Abrams was out until 8 AM this morning at the Casino
bjhaas1977
Wow!
ohyeadam
Going out and having a good time with friends is a good thing. Out until 8am on a game day not a good sign. Maybe they don’t test players at spring training camps for recreational substances
truthlemonade
Where? National Harbor? How did you find this information?
ThatOneCubFan
Report from Cody Delmendo on twitter
ThatOneCubFan
TalkNats also saying he has had warnings about off-the-field issues
TrumpisMyGawd
Cody Delmendo, a blogger at CHGO Sports
refereemn77
Also reported in The Athletic now
deepseamonster32
hot night at the craps table can make a guy lose track of time. plus they don’t have clocks.
cheapseater
deepseamonster32, do Chicago casinos even have craps? Most around the country don’t.
deepseamonster32
well the big casino near me does, but I don’t go much. The absurd power bill for their Christmas light display suggests they’re taking in a lot more than they’re giving out…
hiflew
But do they ban watches? Or phones? Just because there is not a clock on the wall doesn’t mean you should be excused for knowing the time.
truthlemonade
If you’re making this up, you should be ashamed.
I now see that the Nats are in Chicago. So, if he really was out until 8am, that is always horrible, but the Nats and Cubs have a game scheduled for 2:20pm.
I wonder how often MLB players party into the not-even-that-wee-hours and play the next night?
Rally Goose
Was reported by Cody Delmondo on Twitter. So unless ThatOneCubsFan happens to be Delmondo’s burner he didn’t make this up.
JoeBrady
Out at a casino until 8AM is a problem for virtually everyone. I’ve been to many casinos, but someone gambling until 8AM is not only a problem for the team, it could represent a serious addiction problem.
refereemn77
Being reported in The Athletic now too
SteveFinleyEnthusiast
Out until 8am, with a day game at 2:20 EST. Yikes.
Love CJ, but not a good look. Hopefully this is a wake-up call.
deepseamonster32
I’m curious if this even costs him an Option year, since he’s already past the 172 day service year threshold.
Slider_withcheese
Caught a case of the Miami Flu while in Chicago
DM_Nats
For those that don’t know he was out until 8 am at the casino before a 2pm Friday game.
I love CJ but that just can’t happen. Especially as one of (or soon to be) leaders on this team. Respect Riz and the organization for making this move honestly.
qbert1996
This has to be a punishment of some kind. Doesn’t make any sense otherwise.
refereemn77
It does seem to be a reaction to player off-field issues
Gwynning
Not trying to be a jerk here… but this may be misinterpreted as a dig.
Merrill > Abrams
Rally Goose
Has Merrill ever stayed out at a casino until 8 AM the night before a game?
Gwynning
Idk Goose, nor do I care. I’m just judging their ball skills, and subsequently, their team fit.
SteveFinleyEnthusiast
I like them both as players, but definitely seems that Merrill is a better fit for the Friars from what we’ve seen so far. CJ is very talented and has a ton of promise. Hopefully, he uses this as a moment to reflect and learn.
Gwynning
Well said Fins!
gbs42
Does that matter?
Gwynning
It was the rumored provision of the Soto trade, GBS. Abrams or Merrill was the call.
I Believe We Can Win
Do players you keep vs don’t keep in trades matter?
Yes. Yes it does.
gbs42
I was unaware Merrill might have been an alternative part of the Soto deal instead of Abrams. That certainly would matter.
Super2
My ears are burning
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
MF YOURE TELLING ME I OVERPAID TRADED FOR A GUY THAT GETS OPTIONED IN FANTASY
Besides my absolute anger I don’t know what he will learn in triple A
mlb1225
Maybe he’ll learn not to stay out all night gambling?
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
This comment was before that information was released
dcfan78
He’s being moved to the Florida spring training camp not Triple A
JoeBrady
He’ll learn to curtail his gambling habits.
Rishi
Are people who watch him play really that surprised? He seems unfocused on defense and immature in general. Immature in a certain way.
warnbeeb
When James Wood came up I thought there was a little “friction” between Abrams and Wood. At first, I thought it was Wood’s lackadaisical style. He made the plays, he hit, he ran…but often on routine fly balls he’d lob the ball back to the infield. He didn’t hustle out and back to LF; stroll from the on deck circle to the plate, sometimes dragging his bat like it was too heavy and I noticed Abrams jawing with him a couple times and thought maybe C.J. was telling him to get more professional. On the July 4 game vs the Mets Wood lob bounced a couple throws back into the infield that Abrams had to short hop to catch and Abrams appeared to let him know he wasn’t happy. It had no impact on baserunners, etc. as the Mets were getting mostly no-hit that day. Wood didn’t go hard for a foul ball that fell in foul territory rather than make the stands too. They ended up with 1 hit.
I thought Wood was the bad apple. Now, I’m no so sure that it wasn’t Abrams. The Nats have a decent, young core of players, but they do not appear to have an on-field vibe to them. The manager has to get this under control.
Saint Nick
For anyone wondering..apparently he was out at the casino until 8 AM before a 1 PM game.
Clofreesz
CJ, you’ve seen what happened to Tucupita Marcano, Andrew Saalfrank, and Michael Kelly. Don’t ruin your career like this.
Gwynning
Didn’t ruin Shohei’s though! Jk jk I kid i kid
Carl Winslow
Insufferable Ohtani fanboys only stop glazing him if you bring up his “interpreter’s” gambling addiction.
We surely believe him……
🙂
– Carl Winslow
leftcoaster
Odd
dopt
Seems like the Nats need a clubhouse mini casino. Let him gamble until Batting practice at least
findingnimmo
He’s an idiot. Grow up buddy!
3 finger split
Best move AJ Preller made was trading this guy…all the signs were there that he had some
“Character Issues “ besides the fact he was pretty immature when he came up with the Padres. Had they kept him then the Jackson Merrill story doesn’t happen as the Padres wanted him to play CF…I will take Merrill any day of the week over Abrams. Hope he gets it figured out otherwise he isn’t going to be much more than a utility guy. He really didn’t have game situation awareness and made plenty of mental mistakes…not covering a bag, not playing cutoff position and throwing to the wrong base and then told Machado how to play his position…that went over really well
hiflew
This move makes it even more mind-boggling that he was picked for the All Star Game over Ezequiel Tovar.
Paleobros
He was cropdusting in the clubhouse.
straightuphonestguy
I hope Abrams gets some help gambling addiction is no joke.
Carl Winslow
Same goes for Ohtani
Longtimecoming
In all fairness not saying he had an addiction. Just stayed out after curfew which is a big no no gambling which is akin to a big no no.
When to go home is where he needs the help for sure.
straightuphonestguy
That’s fair. He’s young and rich. I just hope he’s being careful with his money.
James Midway
Out at the casino all night huh? Just blame Ippei
Carl Winslow
You’re gonna upset the Ohtani fanboys with that one!
– Carl Winslow
Carl Winslow
Sorry CJ, you’re not Ohtani. Gotta be an international star before you’re held to a different standard for spending time at a casino or gambling.
– Carl Winslow
Zonedeads
This is dumb and no team should be giving any grown man a curfew, especially a trash org like Washington.
BigBallsLongBat
Ok C.J.