Jose Abreu #79 of the Chicago White Sox in the batters box during Game 1 of the ALDS between the Chicago White Sox and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, October 7, 2021 in Houston.
Cooper Neill/MLB Photos via Getty ImagesThe Houston Astros made their first major splash in free agency on Monday.
The World Series champions have reached a deal with first baseman Jose Abreu, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. The former Chicago White Sox standout and 2020 AL MVP will reportedly join Houston on a three-year deal.
MLB Network's Jon Heyman has also reported that Abreu is headed to the Astros. According to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle, the deal "is expected to be around $60 million."
Abreu, 35, spent his first nine MLB seasons with the White Sox. The Cuban slugger has been an effective bat since his first year in the majors, as he enters 2023 with a career .860 OPS.
The addition of Abreu could potentially signal the end of Yuli Gurriel’s tenure with the Astros. The fellow Cuban first baseman logged 801 games with Houston across the last seven seasons, establishing himself as a reliable postseason performer. Gurriel tallied 21 hits and eight RBI in Houston’s 2017 championship run, and despite a poor regular season at the plate in 2022, Gurriel bounced back in October with a .347 batting average in 49 playoff at-bats. His 87 postseason hits are the second-most in franchise history behind Jose Altuve.
Abreu’s counting stats took a dip in 2022 as his 15 home runs were his fewest in a single season. But a deeper dive suggests Abreu is still quite the productive bat. His 133 OPS+ ranked No. 19 among American League hitters, and he registered an impressive .378 OBP. Add in the short porch in left field, and the right-handed first baseman should log another productive year in 2023.
The Astros enter next season looking to become the first back-to-back champion since the 1999-2000 Yankees. Their title defense will begin on March 30 as they face Abreu’s former team, the White Sox.