Ex-Chicago White Sox 1B Jose Abreu Released by Houston Astros

The Houston Astros made a significant roster move Friday as they released first baseman Jose Abreu.

The former American League Rookie of the Year and MVP, who was amid a three-year, $58.5 million contract, will depart the team following a startling decline in performance that left the Astros with little choice but to move on.

Abreu, whose contract will go down as one of the most burdensome financial commitments in Astros history, was unable to replicate the form that once made him a cornerstone in the Chicago White Sox lineup.

After hitting a lackluster .237/.296/.383 last season, Abreu's 2024 campaign started disastrously, prompting an unprecedented option to the team’s Spring Training complex in West Palm Beach in a bid to get him right.

Despite hopes of a renaissance, the 37-year-old's return to the big-league club did nothing to stave off what many had feared: a continued decline. After hitting just .167/.186/.333 over his next 43 plate appearances, reality set in — Abreu's tenure with the Astros would be remembered more for its unfulfilled promise than its achievements.

With Friday's announcement, the Astros have now rid themselves of one of the franchise's worst signings. For Jose Abreu, the future remains uncertain, a stark contrast to the clear promise that once defined his early career and his days spent on the South Side of Chicago, where he was beloved.

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