Astros release former MVP and eat $30 million

Less than two years ago, the Houston Astros were celebrating victory in the bidding war for former American League MVP Jose Abreu.

On Friday afternoon, they painfully admitted their costly mistake.

The Astros released Abreu halfway through his three-year, $58.5 million contract, paying him about $30 million to return home.

Abreu, who was hitting just .124 with two home runs and seven RBIs after spending a month at their minor league complex repairing his swing, is owed the remainder of his $19.5 million salary this year and 19, 5 million dollars in 2025.

That’s the most money the Astros have ever eaten up on a contract, and considering Abreu’s negative 1.6 WAR, it might be the worst contract in franchise history.

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Abreu also struggled mightily early last season, but Astros manager Dusty Baker stuck with him and was rewarded when Abreu finished strong with seven homers and 27 RBIs over the final month , eventually hitting .237 with 18 home runs and 90 RBI. He thrived in the postseason with four home runs and 13 RBIs, helping the Astros get within one game of the World Series.

Yet this season he looked like an old man at the age of 37. He was just 7-for-71 when he agreed to go to the minors that season, and upon his return he hit .167 in 43 plate appearances.

Despite the heavy financial commitment, the Astros simply didn’t believe they could recapture his hitting prowess.

“We tried everything,” general manager Dana Brown told reporters Friday. “It just didn’t work.”

Abreu was a star with the Chicago White Sox, receiving MVP votes in seven seasons, driving in over 100 runs six times, culminating in the 2020 AL MVP award. When he became a free agent after the 2023 season, the Marlins Miami and the Astros were finalists for his services, with Abreu choosing the Astros after they guaranteed him a three-year contract.

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