The Houston Astros made a significant move on Friday by releasing José Abreu, the former American League MVP, before the completion of his three-year, $58.5 million contract. Abreu, 37, struggled this season with a batting average of .124, hitting two home runs and driving in seven runs in 113 at-bats. He had been sent to the minors to work on his swing during the course of the season.
Abreu, a three-time All-Star during his tenure with the Chicago White Sox, claimed the AL MVP title in the shortened 2020 season. He had also been named the AL Rookie of the Year in 2014 after defecting from Cuba the year before. However, his performance declined notably after joining the Astros, hitting a career-low .237 last year with 18 home runs and 90 RBIs.
Over his 11-year career, Abreu has maintained a solid .283 batting average with 263 home runs and 960 RBIs. The Astros still owe him a substantial amount of money, totaling $30,822,504, which includes $11,322,504 from this year's salary and $19.5 million for 2025. Despite his release, any team can now sign Abreu for a prorated share of the major league minimum salary of $740,000, with the Astros covering the remaining amount.
This move marks a significant development in Abreu's career and raises questions about his future in professional baseball. It remains to be seen which team, if any, will take a chance on the veteran player and how he will perform in the remainder of the season and beyond.
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