Less than a week after the Washington Nationals made the surprising decision to option CJ Abrams to Class AAA Rochester, General Manager Mike Rizzo was quick to affirm that Abrams still plays a crucial role in the team’s future. This move, although shocking to some, was not based on performance but rather a reflection of the team's internal standards and accountability. Rizzo wanted to make it clear that the 23-year-old shortstop, who made his first All-Star appearance this past July, remains central to the Nationals’ plans.
“He’s still our guy,” Rizzo stated confidently before the Nationals kicked off their season-ending series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. “We love him, and he’s going to be a great player for us. Optioning him out wasn’t the end of the world. We have a standard here, and we have to keep people accountable. He still has a great upside, and he’s still going to be, in our minds, a great major league shortstop.”
The demotion of Abrams on September 21 raised some eyebrows, especially after reports surfaced that he was seen out late following a loss in Chicago. Multiple sources claimed that he had stayed out all night after the game, a move that didn’t sit well with the team. Nationals Manager Dave Martinez referred to the decision as “an internal issue,” and Rizzo, much like Martinez, remained tight-lipped about whether the viral social media post showing Abrams out past dawn on game day played a role in the move. However, Rizzo did admit that the post made the situation public.
“I’m in touch with his agent, and we’re on the same page,” Rizzo added. However, the general manager had yet to speak with Abrams directly, who was spending time in West Palm Beach, Florida, at the team's spring training facility. Despite this, Rizzo expressed confidence that Abrams would take the situation seriously and return stronger. “He got the message loud and clear. We had a long discussion with him. He knows how we feel about him, and he knows how I feel personally.”
Abrams' season, in many ways, mirrors the story of the Nationals as a whole—full of early promise, followed by a series of struggles. In the first half of the season, Abrams batted an impressive .268 with an .831 OPS, earning him a spot in the All-Star game. However, his performance took a significant dip in the second half, with his batting average falling to .203 and his OPS dropping to .586.
The Nationals have seen a similar arc this year. As of Friday night, the team was sitting at 69-90, marking yet another disappointing campaign. In late June, they were flirting with a .500 record (38-39) and were just a half-game out of a wild-card spot, thanks largely to strong starting pitching. At that time, there was genuine optimism about a potential postseason push. However, the summer months saw the team struggle, particularly their offense, which underperformed even with the much-anticipated debuts of James Wood and Dylan Crews.
One major issue has been the lack of power hitting. As of Friday, the Nationals ranked second-to-last in Major League Baseball with just 131 home runs, and they were 26th in slugging percentage (.372). Additionally, the team’s pitching, once a bright spot, has faltered. Washington’s pitching staff had a 3.83 ERA before that June series in San Diego, but since then, their ERA has ballooned to 4.78.
Rizzo addressed the team’s challenges head-on. “Last year wasn’t the record I wanted, the year before wasn’t the record I wanted, and this year isn’t the record I wanted either,” he said candidly. “But, when I look at how we did it this year, especially with the starting pitching coming on like we saw, the breakout of the young kids, and the strong season our minor league prospects had, I see progress.”
Indeed, while this season may not have yielded the results fans were hoping for, the bigger picture offers some encouraging signs. The Nationals now have a clearer sense of their core players heading into the future. The outfield, for instance, looks set with a promising trio of Crews, Wood, and Jacob Young. Young, in particular, has earned high praise for his elite defensive abilities. Abrams and second baseman Luis García Jr., the team's most consistent hitter, provide a solid infield foundation, while catcher Keibert Ruiz, though still finding his stride, remains a key piece with a contract that runs through 2030. And let’s not forget the Nationals' young pitching core—four starters under the age of 28 who have shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season.
As the Nationals look ahead to the offseason, Rizzo acknowledged that there are still significant gaps to fill, particularly on the mound and in the corner infield spots. The team could benefit from adding veteran starting pitchers to help guide their younger arms and some established hitters to bolster the lineup. However, the big question remains whether the team’s ownership, the Lerners, will be willing to open their wallets and invest the necessary financial resources to bring in the talent needed to turn the Nationals into legitimate contenders once again.
“We’re going to see who’s available and what fits we have up there,” Rizzo said. “I think it’s time for us to add to the roster because we’ve got a good young core group of guys, and some veteran leadership is warranted.”
The Nationals, having decided against exploring a sale of the team, are now at a crossroads. With foundational pieces in place and a developing core of young talent, the potential for the Nationals to reemerge as playoff contenders is there. However, that potential can only be realized if the organization is willing to make key acquisitions and spend where it counts. The upcoming offseason will be pivotal in determining the team’s trajectory in the coming years.
Despite the ups and downs of the season, Rizzo and the Nationals' management seem optimistic about what lies ahead. For Abrams, this experience could serve as a valuable lesson, and the Nationals are hopeful that he will return next season, motivated and ready to deliver on the immense potential he has shown. The pieces are in place—the question is whether the team can put it all together and make a serious push for the playoffs in 2024.
The journey may have been bumpy, but the future remains bright for the Washington Nationals.
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