The Houston Astros, who started Tuesday with the 2nd-worst history in the American League, are taking to drastic actions. They have optioned former American League Most Important Participant Jose Abreu to the slight leagues following an abysmal efficiency to start out the 2024 period.
The mutual final decision is reportedly productive Wednesday.
José Abreu is not with the Astros, GM Dana Brown claimed. Both equally sides resolved that Abreu will be optioned to West Palm Beach front successful tomorrow “to get some at-bats and his timing again proper.”
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 30, 2024
Abreu, 37, has a .099 batting average and only seven hits — a single for excess bases, a double — in his initially 77 plate appearances this period. The veteran slugger hit 18 dwelling operates and drove in 90 RBIs for the 1st-spot Astros a 12 months ago, however has observed his creation plummet underneath what a championship-aspiring crew can have on its everyday roster.
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The Astros entered Tuesday’s game from the Cleveland Guardians with a 9-19 history — even worse only than the rebuilding Chicago White Sox (6-23) in the American League. Houston has arrived at the AL Championship Collection in each individual of the very last 6 seasons, a exceptional streak thinking about the parity in present day MLB.
Expectations had been no distinctive coming into this time for the Astros, who committed extra than $100 million to totally free brokers this previous offseason, nonetheless have gotten really tiny return for their money. Their crew payroll projects to $253 million for wage tax reasons — very well over the threshold that incurs a tax.
Abreu is established to get paid $19.5 million in salary every single of the subsequent two seasons. The Astros’ choice to indication the 2020 AL MVP to a three-year, $58.5 million prior in Nov. 2022 was relatively shocking for the forward-pondering club, which has put in selectively although developing a championship core from inside during its mini-dynasty.
Minor far more than a calendar year later on, the conclusion to indication Abreu seems to be even more controversial. Teams typically send having difficulties players to the minimal leagues to deal with their shortcomings. Not often, however, does that selection contact a player with 10 years of services time. Abreu’s seniority authorized him to block an optional assignment to Triple-A gamers with more than five a long time of company time should give their consent prior to currently being optioned.
Abreu has a career .284 batting common with 261 home operates and 956 RBIs in his occupation with the Chicago White Sox (2014-22) and Astros (2023-24). He was initially signed as a absolutely free agent out of Cuba in Oct. 2013. Abreu’s preliminary six-12 months, $68 million contract was pretty much a bargain for the White Sox. He gained the 2014 AL Rookie of the 12 months, designed 3 All-Star teams, and won 3 Silver Slugger Awards in addition to his lone MVP.
So far, the Astros have not gotten the exact bang for their buck from the veteran initial baseman. For now, it appears Abreu will have to just take a move back to go ahead.
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