The Houston Astros signed Jose Abreu to a three-year, $58.5 million contract ahead of the 2023 season, and it has not gone to plan in the first two seasons, as he has had a stark drop-off in production since departing the Chicago White Sox. There is some concern coming from scouts regarding whether he can regain form.
“Scouts are alarmed that Astros first baseman Jose Abreu’s bat has drastically slowed and wonder how patient the team will be considering Abreu is in the second year of a three-year, $58.5 million contract,” Bob Nightengale of USA Today writes.
So far this season, Abreu is batting .122 with a .196 on-base percentage, recording five hits, according to MLB.com. He has been dropped in the lineup, and at times benched for the Astros. In the 2023 season, Abreu hit .237 with a .296 on-base percentage and 18 home runs. All of those statistics are well below his career averages. He would usually have OPS marks over .800, with a few other seasons over .900 as well. He was at .679 in 2023, and is currently at .342 so far this season.
Abreu notoriously is a slow starter in his career, then heats up in May and beyond. However, it is important to acknowledge that the early season weather playing with the White Sox might have contributed to that. Playing with the Astros, the home games are in ideal situations for the most part playing in a stadium with a retractable roof.
With Abreu being in his age 37 season, it could be that this is just a natural decline at the end of his career. He will likely get more run to see if he can come out of this slump this season, as the Astros are committed to him through the end of next season, and he was expected to be a key part of the lineup when he signed. It will be worth monitoring whether or not he can rebound from his struggles so far.
Astros want to avoid digging a hole
The Astros have struggled out of the gate this season, as they sit with a 5-11 record. The starting pitching, despite the performance of Ronel Blanco, has struggled mightily this season. Houston will try to win a three-game series with a win on Sunday against the Texas Rangers.
No one should count out the Astros at this point in the season. They have made a living out of just getting better as the season goes along in recent memory. However, there are arguably more things that need to improve as the season goes along this year as opposed to prior seasons, especially with the pitching staff. Justin Verlander is still working his way back, and Franber Valdez is as well. Those two are essential.
If Abreu can regain form, it would greatly lengthen the Astros’ lineup.
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