"CJ Abrams stayed all night at a casino" - MLB insider alleges shocking reason for Nationals All-Star's demotion

As reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan, Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams has been given a demotion to the minor leagues for disciplinary action. The decision was taken by management after he reportedly spent the night at a casino before the team's game against the Chicago Cubs.

On Thursday, CJ Abrams led off the batting lineup for the Nats with a 4-hit night. Afterwards, he allegedly went to a casino in Chicago and would only leave a few hours before Friday's 1 p.m. start. Returning in time, the infielder batted 0-for-3 with one walk in a game that Washington would lose, 3-1.

The 23-year-old was sent back to West Palm Beach, Florida, the place where the Nationals' minor league players train. Abrams' demotion came as a shock to everyone.

His maiden All-Star nod came after he batted .268 with 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases in the first 89 games. But he had lost his rythym in the second half, batting just .203. However, he seemed to have regained some form after hitting 10-for-21 in his last six games.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez commented on the decision stating that the disciplinary action didn't have anything to do Abrams' on-field performance.

"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."

What effects does it have on CJ Abrams' 2024 earnings?

CJ Abrams was brought to the capital as part of the blockbuster Juan Soto trade with the San Diego Padres. This year he has already completed 172 days of service time, having been with the team since the start of the season. Abrams currently holds a rookie contract with the team ammounting to $752,000 with 2025 being the first year that he is eligible for arbitration.

His minor league sendoff will cost the youngster $30,000 as he is set to miss the last week of action. Abrams can contest that by filing a grievance to the league through the MLB Players Association.

The Nationals hope that the team and Abrams can move on and come back stronger in 2025. The shortstop is expected to be an important figure in the lineup moving forward.