Inside the CJ Abrams move down to the Rochester Red Wings

The news that the Washington Nationals were sending All-Star CJ Abrams down to Triple-A sent shockwaves through the Nationals' Twitter community just before today's game against the Chicago Cubs.

Team officials clarified that the move was not due to performance on the field or service-time issues. In his pre-game comments in Chicago, Manager Davey Martinez addressed the move by stating, "It's an internal issue... I'm not going to delve into specifics or discuss them publicly because I need to maintain a positive atmosphere within the team. I have other players to support. I'll continue to support CJ. He's a vital part of our Nats family, and he will continue to be. However, for now, this is the best course of action."

According to a Nats Report source, the decision to send Abrams down came after he was spotted at a casino in Chicago until 8 a.m., a claim seemingly corroborated by an X post from Cody Delmendo of CHGO Sports.

When asked about this report during his pre-game press conference, Martinez responded, "I'm not going to discuss any specifics. I'll handle this matter internally."

On Thursday night, Abrams had a strong performance, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and two stolen bases in the Nats' 7-6 loss to the Cubs. He was back in the lineup Friday afternoon but went 0-for-3 with a walk.

According to our source, the front office finally reached its breaking point on Friday when they witnessed Abrams's lack of effort during a play in which catcher Drew Millas attempted to pick off Seiya Suzuki in the bottom of the eighth inning. Millas threw a sharp throw, but Abrams was slow to react and missed the catch, allowing Suzuki to reach base safely.

While we aren't sure how this move will affect the team this offseason, Martinez's comments suggest that Abrams is still part of the Washington Nationals' future. It has been reported that the Nationals are looking to lock up Abrams for a long-term contract and solidify the shortstop position. However, it is unclear how this will affect those negotiations this offseason.