Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo confirmed that the team’s long-term view of CJ Abrams has not changed following the decision to demote the All-Star shortstop to Triple-A last week. Rizzo stated that Abrams is still a valuable player for the team and has the potential to be a great major league shortstop in the future. The demotion came after an internal matter, with reports suggesting Abrams was at a casino until early morning on game day.
Abrams had an impressive season, hitting .246 with 20 homers, 65 RBIs, and 31 steals in 138 games, earning his first All-Star selection in July. The 23-year-old is considered a cornerstone of the Nationals’ rebuilding project, acquired in a trade in 2022.
Rizzo emphasized the need for the Nationals to be active in the upcoming trade and free-agent markets to add to their roster. He believes it is time for the team to invest in veteran leadership to complement their core group of young players.
The Nationals are set to finish fourth in the NL East after four consecutive losing seasons since winning the World Series in 2019. Rizzo expressed confidence in the team’s potential for growth and improvement in the coming seasons.
Source
Photo credit wtop.com
