A surprising move on the penultimate weekend of the season: the Nationals have optioned SS C.J. Abrams to Triple-A Rochester, and called up infielder Trey Lipscomb to replace him on the roster.
Nasim Nunez started at shortstop, hitting ninth, in Saturday’s game against the Cubs.
Manager Dave Martinez told reporters in Chicago ahead of Saturday’s game that the move was “an internal issue” and he “wouldn’t give specifics” beyond that.
"I just want it to be known it wasn't performance-based," Martinez said. "It's an internal issue. I'm not going to give specifics. I’m going to support CJ. He’s a big part of our Nats family, and he will be, but at this point for me, it’s the right thing to do.”
Per multiple reports, including from ESPN Cubs reporter Jesse Rogers, Abrams’ demotion came after he stayed out all night following Thursday’s Cubs-Nationals game at a Chicago casino, leaving early in the morning just hours before Friday’s 1:20 p.m. CT game.
“We’re all aware of the report but beyond that, it’s an internal issue that we will keep in the family,” GM Mike Rizzo told The Athletic’s Britt Ghiroli Saturday.
Abrams was 0-for-3 with a walk in that Friday afternoon game.
The move effectively ends Abrams’ season, as he cannot return before the end of the year unless as an injury replacement, and the only affiliate still playing is Rochester, whose season ends Sunday.
Per Martinez, Abrams will head back to Washington, and then down to the team’s facility in West Palm Beach for the final week of the season.
He will not lose any service time – he has already gotten credit for a full year as of this week – but per Jeff Passan of ESPN, he could file a grievance through the MLBPA to recover nine days’ worth of his $752,000 salary if he feels the move was unjust.
On the field, Abrams was the Nationals’ lone All-Star but he has hit just .203 with a .586 OPS since the break, although he is slashing .324/.366/.934 over the last two weeks. He finishes with a .246/.314/.433 slash line with 20 homers, 29 doubles, 65 RBI, 40 walks, 31 steals and 79 runs scored in 138 games.
Lipscomb, 24, has had four stints in the Majors this year, hitting .207 with one home run, 10 RBI, and 11 stolen bases while playing mostly third base, but also making appearances at first and second.