Astros make big decision on struggling Jose Abreu

Jun 14, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros first baseman Jose Abreu (79) runs up the base line after hitting a home run to left field against the Washington Nationals during the fourth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Astros are finally giving up on struggling first baseman Jose Abreu.

The Astros confirmed Friday that they are releasing Abreu. The move means they will simply take the hit on the remaining money on his contract, which comes out to over $30 million.

Abreu was a flashy free agent addition prior to the 2023 season, with the team signing him to a three-year, $58.5 million deal. To say they have not gotten their money’s worth would be an understatement. Abreu hit just .237 with 18 home runs for the Astros in 2023, and was so bad in 2024 that he was shipped to the minors for a period after starting the season 7-for-71.

Things have not improved significantly since he was brought back up, and he departs Houston with a .124 average and two home runs in 2024. The performance was bad enough that Houston opted to absorb the rest of the money owed to him, even though they are not even halfway through the life of the deal.

It is possible that Abreu will land somewhere else, especially with the Astros on the hook for the rest of the money he was owed through 2025. However, the 37-year-old has looked largely finished at the plate for over a year now, and it does not seem particularly likely that a change of scenery will help much.