Former AL MVP Signs in Puerto Rican League

 

It's been a sharp fall from grace over the past couple of seasons for former American League MVP Jose Abreu. As soon as he signed his big free agent contract with the Houston Astros in the 2022 offseason, he went from a career near-.300 hitter with an .850 OPS, to a player who struggled to stay above the Mendoza Line. The Astros cut him midway through last season and ate the final $30 million of his deal. 

Now we learn that Abreu has signed on in the Puerto Rican Winter League to try and get his game back.

Sources: José Abreu signed with the Senadores of San Juan in Puerto Rico’s winter ball.

Abreu will begin his journey toward an MLB comeback in 2025.

He will soon report to the Senadores for the winter season, which starts in early November. pic.twitter.com/XNwG3RiwvV

— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) October 9, 2024

His contract is with Senadores of San Juan, and he will use the opportunity to try and earn himself a major league comeback next season.  

Abreu is turning 38 in January, so nobody expects a return to his All-Star and MVP days when he would regularly blast 30 home runs and bat close to .300. 

But the former veteran team leader is trying to salvage his career, and anything better than the .124 he hit last season with an OPS+ of 4 (yes, FOUR) in 120 plate appearances would be an improvement. 

The Cuban first baseman was a rock in the heart of the Chicago White Sox lineup (and in the clubhouse) for nine years, earning three All-Star nods and one MVP award (2020). 

Photo: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images