Overview
- The Nationals announced a transition that moves C.J. Abrams away from full-time shortstop and places him in a split role at second base with Nasim Nunez.
- Team officials pointed to clear defensive problems as the reason for the change, noting Abrams led MLB in errors and ranked at the bottom of Statcast fielding run value and outs above average.
- Abrams’s agent, Mike Sanders, said the player is “not thrilled” about losing shortstop but will be team-first and still believes he is a shortstop long term.
- Abrams is in the midst of a career offensive season with career highs in home runs and RBIs and strong stolen-base production, which the club wants to protect by reducing his defensive exposure.
- The move raises roster and contract questions because Abrams has only 13 career games at second base, he remains under club control for multiple seasons, and the club and player plan offseason work to reassess his shortstop viability.