Former American League MVP Jose Abreu will have to be a slugger somewhere else. That's because the Houston Astros have officially released Abreau, the team announced on Friday.
Abreu, 37, has struggled mightily this season — batting just .124 with two homers and seven RBIs in 35 games for the season.
Abreu was demoted to the Florida Complex League by the Astros back on April 30. He appeared in five games there, then two at Triple-A Sugar Land before being called up to the Astros on May 27.
All of this comes just a couple of years after he signed a three-year, $58.5 contract with Houston. He's due a whopping $19.5 million of that this year, as well as in 2025.
Earlier in the day, Astros GM Dana Brown indicated the clock was ticking on Abreu.
"He's going to play some first base in Triple-A, we don't know that yet, we're still evaluating him," Brown said in a radio appearance. "But we're not afraid, if he makes the most sense. We'll try to get his bat in the lineup somewhere. We haven't given them any big league games at first base yet, but ultimately, I feel like he's going to be a part of this run. Whether it's at first base or left field."
Per the Associated Press:
"Abreu was the AL Rookie of the Year with the Chicago White Sox in 2014 and made the All-Star teams with Chicago in 2014, 2018 and 2019. He was crowned AL MVP in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign after batting .317 with 19 homers and 60 RBIs in just 60 games.
"Across 11 seasons, Abreu has hit .283 in 1,446 games with 263 home runs and 960 RBIs for the White Sox (2014-22) and Astros. His 960 RBIs since his debut in 2014 are the most in the AL in that span."
