The Houston Astros signed Jose Abreu to a hefty three-year contract in the 2022-23 offseason to fill a weak first-base position. Despite a stellar previous season, Abreu's 2023 performance faltered significantly, culminating in his release in June 2024 due to poor hitting. The Astros were forced to rethink their approach at first base and explore options like Christian Walker and Nolan Arenado as potential replacements. The team's decisions reflect an urgent need to rebound following Abreu's unanticipated decline as a key player.
"After hitting only .237/.296/.383 in 594 PA in 2023, Abreu hit so poorly (.124/.167/.195) over his first 120 PA of the 2024 season that the Astros chose to release the veteran in June."},{
"Abreu's 'professional hitter' track record indicated that he would continue to be productive into his late-30's, making his deal a wise investment for Houston on paper."}],
"The Astros certainly felt the need to address first base in a major fashion this past winter."
"Arenado used his no-trade protection to reject the move to Houston, with later reporting revealing that Arenado wasn't closing the door on the Astros entirely."}],
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