Astros release Jose Abreu with more than $30 million in contract

MLB

By Bridget Reilly

Jose Abreu is packing his bags – lots of money in them.

The Astros released the first baseman on Friday, less than two years into his three-year, $58.5 million contract. The team announced.

Abreu is still owed $30.8 million. According to ESPN.

Abreu emerged as a solid slugger during his time with the White Sox, but failed to bring star power after joining the Astros as a free agent.

In the nine seasons he spent with Chicago, Abreu won the AL MVP award in 2020 and earned three All-Star and Silver Slugger seasons.

He received Rookie of the Year honors in 2014.

After signing him through 2022 in November, the Astros rarely saw that version of Abreu.

In 176 games, he had a .217 batting average and a .625 OPS.

This April, amid a brutal start to the season, he agreed to option to the minors with hopes of finding his old ways at the team’s facility in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Abreu played in five games with the team’s rookie league team and appeared in two games with Triple-A Sugar Land.

The turnaround never came.

The 37-year-old hit .167 with a .186 on-base percentage and a .333 slugging percentage in 13 games after being recalled.

Abreu posted a dismal .124 average, .167 on-base percentage, .195 slugging percentage and .361 OPS this season. He had 14 hits, two home runs and seven RBIs in 113 at-bats this season.

With the Astros slipping in the AL West standings, the team can’t find reasons to keep Abreu around.