Abreu: 'The Houston Astros created a great culture, great family and I want to be part of that'

The Houston Astros currently have a general manager (GM) vacancy, but it didn’t stop them from landing one of their desired free agent targets in first baseman Jose Abreu. 

The incumbent World Series champions signed the 35-year-old Abreu to a three-year deal on Monday, luring him from the Chicago White Sox, per a report on the team’s website. 

“We don't rebuild, we reload,” the Astros declared on Twitter.

With Abreu in the mix, the Astros now have two former American League Most Valuable Player (ALMVP) awardees on the roster. 

Second baseman and elder statesman Jose Altuve took home the honor in the ballclub’s first championship season in 2017 while Abreu earned the accolade for the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. 

Abreu, who slashed 304/.378/.446 in his last season on Chicago’s South Side, turns 36 next month, ESPN reported.

Per the Astros, their newest acquisition is expected to give their already potent offense more pop and will likely bat sixth in the 2023 season. 

Abreu said in the report that he wants to work on boosting his power, referring to his homerun (HR) draught during his last stretch of games with the White Sox. 

He was still considered for the 2022 AL Silver Slugger Award, according to the report.

As to why he decided to join the Astros, Abreu said it was all about the family atmosphere at 501 Crawford St. 

“The Houston Astros created a great culture, great family and I want to be part of that,” he said, per the franchise. “Most importantly, I want to win.” 

Abreu is the purported successor at first base to fellow Cuban Yuli Gurriel, who entered free agency immediately after the Astros won their second Fall Classic title in six years. 

The 38-year-old Gurriel was one of the five holdovers from the 2017 squad that won it all.