The Houston Astros will get a marquee right-handed bat for their lineup: several outlets reported on Monday that they agreed to sign former Chicago White Sox slugger Jose Abreu to a three-year deal worth around $60 million.
Despite hitting “just” 15 home runs in 2022, Abreu is a premium middle-of-the-order producer with 243 dingers and 863 RBI in nine seasons in the majors.
That’s almost 100 RBI per season, and one of those was 60 games long!
The Cuban star is now going from a team with several countrymen (Yoan Moncada, Luis Robert, etc.) to another squad full of Latinos.
He is joining fellow Cuban Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve and Luis Garcia from Venezuela, Jeremy Pena, Cristian Javier and Hector Neris from the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rican catcher Martin Maldonado.
If the Astros bring them back, Abreu would also share the field with fellow Cubans Yuli Gurriel and Aledmys Diaz.
Abreu Had Astros Connections
Besides the obvious Latino connection, it seems Abreu has a soft spot for the entire Astros roster.
“Jose Abreu has a great relationship already with several Astros. Three years ago, I sent the Astros a traditional Cuban breakfast when they visited the Southside of Chicago for a series,” OurEsquina.com editor Jose de Jesus Ortiz tweeted.
Jose Abreu has a great relationship already with several Astros. Three years ago, I sent the Astros a traditional Cuban breakfast when they visited the Southside of Chicago for a series. https://t.co/lzDn3agcUD
— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) November 28, 2022
Abreu knows a lot of the current Astros players and is entering an ideal situation, with guaranteed playing time and a concrete chance to win the World Series.
That would be a first for him.
After posting a .824 OPS and a 137 wRC+ (100 is considered league-average offensive performance), it’s clear that Abreu still has a lot of thump left in his right-handed bat.
The Astros’ lineup is even better now, so the American League better watch out.
