Jose Abreu is not ready to call it a career just yet.
According to insider Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com, the 37-year-old has signed with los Senadores de San Juan to play in the Puerto Rican Winter League this offseason. Abreu hopes this is just the start of his major-league comeback campaign ahead of next season.
During his nine-year tenure on the South Side, Abreu was named an American League MVP, a three-time All-Star, and a three-time Silver Slugger Award recipient. An irreplaceable leader and staple of production in the White Sox lineup, the Cuban owned a career .292/.354/.506 slash with 243 home runs, 863 RBI, 697 runs, and a .860 OPS.
In a press conference with the White Sox before the 2022 season’s end, Abreu expressed his desire to continue playing and was interested in returning to Chicago. However, he said there had not been any talks with the front office and that he would take the offseason to rest and think about what comes next. This was a far cry from when he said he would “sign himself” prior to his free agency in 2019.
Abreu eventually signed a three-year, $58.5 million deal with Houston, which ended up being a forgettable stint. The 2024 season alone was a complete disaster where he hit .124/.167/.195 in 35 games, ultimately resulting in getting optioned to Triple-A and later released midway through his second season.
Heading into 2025, any club can sign Pito and owe him only the prorated league minimum for time spent on the big league roster. Though a complete resurgence appears unlikely, it wouldn’t be a bad flier for certain teams to take. Time will tell whether Abreu shows enough promise and production in winter ball to get one more opportunity.
His upcoming season is set to begin in early November, per Romero.
For more updates, follow us on social media @SoxOn35th.
Featured Photo: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
