The Houston Astros, who began Tuesday with the second-worst record in the American League, are taking to drastic measures. They have optioned former American League Most Valuable Player Jose Abreu to the minor leagues following an abysmal performance to begin the 2024 season.
The mutual decision is reportedly effective Wednesday.
José Abreu is not with the Astros, GM Dana Brown said. Both sides decided that Abreu will be optioned to West Palm Beach effective tomorrow “to get some at-bats and his timing back right.”
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 30, 2024
Abreu, 37, has a .099 batting average and only seven hits — one for extra bases, a double — in his first 77 plate appearances this season. The veteran slugger hit 18 home runs and drove in 90 RBIs for the first-place Astros a year ago, yet has seen his production plummet below what a championship-aspiring team can carry on its everyday roster.
The Astros entered Tuesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians with a 9-19 record — worse only than the rebuilding Chicago White Sox (6-23) in the American League. Houston has reached the AL Championship Series in each of the last six seasons, a remarkable streak considering the parity in today's MLB.
Expectations were no different entering this season for the Astros, who committed more than $100 million to free agents this past offseason, yet have gotten very little return for their money. Their team payroll projects to $253 million for salary tax purposes — well above the threshold that incurs a tax.
Abreu is set to earn $19.5 million in salary each of the next two seasons. The Astros' decision to sign the 2020 AL MVP to a three-year, $58.5 million prior in Nov. 2022 was somewhat surprising for the forward-thinking club, which has spent selectively while building a championship core from within during its mini-dynasty.
Little more than a year later, the decision to sign Abreu looks even more controversial. Teams commonly send struggling players to the minor leagues to address their shortcomings. Rarely, however, does that decision touch a player with 10 years of service time. Abreu's seniority allowed him to block an optional assignment to Triple-A; players with more than five years of service time must give their consent prior to being optioned.
Abreu has a career .284 batting average with 261 home runs and 956 RBIs in his career with the Chicago White Sox (2014-22) and Astros (2023-24). He was originally signed as a free agent out of Cuba in Oct. 2013. Abreu's initial six-year, $68 million contract was practically a bargain for the White Sox. He won the 2014 AL Rookie of the Year, made three All-Star teams, and won three Silver Slugger Awards in addition to his lone MVP.
So far, the Astros have not gotten the same bang for their buck from the veteran first baseman. For now, it appears Abreu will have to take a step back to move forward.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
J.P. Hoornstra writes and edits Major League Baseball content. A veteran of 20 years of sports coverage for daily newspapers ... Read more
