The Houston Astros announced the release of José Abreu on Friday, a move that will cost them a significant amount of money. They are parting ways with the former AL MVP just halfway through his three-year, $58.5 million contract.
Abreu, who is 37 years old, struggled this season with a batting average of .124, two home runs, and seven RBIs. Despite his impressive career with the Chicago White Sox, where he was a three-time All-Star and won the AL MVP in 2020, Abreu’s performance with the Astros did not meet expectations. He had his lowest batting average last year at .237 with 18 home runs and 90 RBIs. The team still owes him more than $30 million from his contract signed before last season.
Despite his struggles with the Astros, Abreu’s track record in the MLB suggests that he still has a lot to offer to any team willing to take a chance on him. He has been named the AL Rookie of the Year in 2014 after defecting from Cuba and has a career batting average of .283 with 263 home runs and 960 RBIs in 11 seasons.
