Houston, Texas – The Astros made a surprising move by releasing first baseman José Abreu on Friday, just under two years into his three-year, $58.5 million contract. According to reports, Abreu is still owed $30.8 million despite his release.
Abreu, known for his time with the Chicago White Sox where he achieved numerous accolades including the AL MVP award in 2020, struggled to make an impact with the Astros after signing as a free agent. His performance with the Astros paled in comparison to his time with the White Sox, where he was a consistent slugger and key player.
Despite hopes for a revival in his form, Abreu’s statistics with the Astros were lackluster, with a batting average of .217 and a .625 OPS across 176 games. Even after a stint in the minors to work on his game, Abreu failed to regain his MVP form and continued to struggle at the plate upon his return to the majors.
The decision to release Abreu was likely influenced by his underwhelming performance this season, where he posted a .124 average, .167 on-base percentage, .195 slugging percentage, and a .361 OPS. With the Astros facing challenges in the AL West standings, the team made the tough call to part ways with Abreu.
The 37-year-old veteran player’s future in baseball remains uncertain after his release, but teams may still show interest in his experience and potential contributions. As Abreu looks ahead to the next chapter of his career, he will have to prove himself once again and demonstrate his value on the field.