Following the Houston Astros' World Series winning season in 2022, one of their franchise staples hit free agency and ultimately played baseball for another organization.
The front office had to find a replacement for Yuli Gurriel, who initially signed with them in 2016 and won two championships, a Gold Glove and batting title during his tenure.
The Astros decided to be aggressive and handed out a three-year, $58.5 million contract to former AL Rookie of the Year and AL MVP, Jose Abreu.
Unfortunately, the slugger's first season in Houston did not go as planned.
He posted his career-worst slash line of .237/.296/.383 with only 18 home runs and a disappointing 90 RBI for what he's done throughout his time in Major League Baseball.
For the price they paid, Abreu's performance and injuries during the season hurt the Astros.
The slugger did pick it up during the latter portions of the year and in the playoffs, but this season also signaled they should be looking for a first base replacement soon.
Well, according to Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report, they acquired their future first baseman when they landed Trey Cabbage in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels.
Cabbage made his MLB debut last season with the Angels and only slashed .208/.232/.321 across 22 games and 56 plate appearances, but he showcased his potential at Triple-A when he hit .306/.379/.596 with 30 homers, 89 RBI and 32 steals in 107 games.
He's certainly an interesting player to monitor this season for Houston.
If he performs well, that gives the organization more options.
Abreu likely still maintains a stronghold on first base in 2024, but if his performance dips again, there's a chance the Astros might be willing to move off of him.
If that were the case, Cabbage could become their starter as he's still in pre-arbitration through the 2026 season, giving Houston a cost-controlled asset they desperately need with so many high-priced contracts on their books.
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