To say José Abreu has underachieved in Houston is an understatement. In his two years with the team the slugger is slashing .220/.279/.350/.629 with 18 longballs and 94 runs batted in, these totals do not justify the juicy 3-year, 58.5 million contract he signed in 2023. The Cuban slugger must make some drastic improvements or his time in Space City might be up in very near future.
With his arrival the Astros boasted the acquisition of another potent Cuban bat to aid their superstar slugger Yordan Álvarez and provide him some protection in the lineup, which has not been the case so far. The team also let fan favorite and one-time star first baseman Yuli Gurriel walk in free agency to accommodate Abreu’s arrival. So far the move looks like a major gaffe for the two-time World Champions.
Houston General Manager Dana Brown addressed the team’s concern about the 2020 MVP production and future in a conversation with Houston’s 790 AM during a recent radio interview:
“He’s a veteran and I hope he turns the corner. There are still many games left, but if in the future he can’t do it, if he doesn’t get hot, we’ll have to make a decision… How long? I don’t know that, but it’s a while away.” If he cannot heat up and turn a corner, we will have to have a different discussion “, said Brown about the first baseman’s future with the team.
Since his arrival from Cuba to the big leagues in 2014, Abreu has been one of the most feared hitters in MLB posting four 30-homer, 100-RBI seasons. The native of Mal Tiempo, Cuba has also been a 3-time All-Star selection, 3-time Silver Slugger and the 2014 Rookie of the Year. A heralded career that has seen Abreu swat 260 homeruns, knock in 957 runs and collect more than 1,500 hits could be in danger if cannot turn his production at the plate around.
Could a designation for assignment be in the one-time prize acquisition’s future? Only time will tell us that.