Astros release struggling José Abreu with over $30 million left on contract

MLB

By Bridget Reilly

José Abreu is packing his bags — with plenty of money in them.

The Astros released the first baseman 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 top slugger in his time with the White Sox, but he failed to bring star power to the Astros after joining them as a free agent.

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

He also earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2014.

The Astros rarely saw that version of Abreu after signing him in November 2022.

Across 176 games, he held a .217 batting average and .625 OPS.

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

Abreu played five games with the team’s rookie league squad and also appeared in two games with Triple-A Sugar Land during his nearly month-long stint.

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 just 14 hits in 113 at-bats this season, along with two home runs and seven RBIs.

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