The World Series champs have been linked to some of MLB’s top free agents in the first few weeks of the offseason. The Houston Astros have reportedly signed a recent AL MVP as they try to keep the reigning AL Cy Young winner.
Jose Abreu is expected to ink a three-year contract with Houston, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. The news comes on the heels of The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reporting that Justin Verlander was scheduled to meet with the Los Angeles Dodgers Monday.
Abreu hit .304/.378/.446 for the Chicago White Sox in the 2022 season. The first baseman’s 15 home runs were a career-low, but his batting average and 4.2 WAR were the third-highest marks of his nine-year career. Abreu hit 30 home runs for 117 RBI in 2021, one season after a .987 OPS earned him the MVP award in the 60-game 2020 season.
Abreu will be 36 years old on Opening Day. He’s only missed 18 total games in the last four seasons.
The Abreu signing could mean that the Astros are ready to move on from Yuli Gurriel, who has been the team’s starting first baseman during its run of six straight ALCS appearances. Gurriel won the 2021 AL batting title. He hit .242 with eight homers in 146 games this past season, but his .347 average in the playoffs led Houston.
The Astros appear to have plenty of competition for Verlander. Houston’s ace has reportedly had a Zoom meeting with the New York Mets. The New York Yankees are reportedly interested in Verlander, as well.
Verlander won his third Cy Young award in 2022 by pitching to a 1.75 ERA. The 39-year-old won Game 5 of the World Series by giving up one run in five innings.
Houston had the AL’s best pitching staff last season, and the team’s top starters behind Verlander are under contract. Framber Valdez had a 2.82 ERA in a league-high 201.1 innings. Cristian Javier posted a 2.54 ERA.
The Astros went 7-0 in the AL playoffs before needing six games to beat the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series.
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