In less than 2 years we went from Houston Legend Yuli to a washed and overpaid Abreu and now to Jon Frickin Singleton. What a putrid turn of events lol
Abreu did have a better year than all of them in 2023. Just not worth it for 3 years. While long-term contracts for brand new free agents are overpaid in the end, you’re at least expected to get all their prime years and that’s built into the structure. While older players demand less years and less overall money, this is the risk when somebody is close to being over the age-related cliff.
if that happens, I expect a full investigation and possible lawsuit. Crane better put one of his analysts on a Jose Abreu job for the rest of the season. he's done.
Bagwell did so because he wanted to return to Houston before his birthday, not because Abreu was ready. He's a swindler and needs to be ousted from this organization.
…A team spokesperson said Crane “is not in Houston currently,” leaving second-year general manager Dana Brown to answer questions better served for someone else. Crane teamed with senior adviser Jeff Bagwell to sign Abreu two months before Brown arrived. …Crane and Bagwell had at least some influence on Abreu’s continued presence on Houston’s roster. Crane perhaps wanted to extract any value he could from a calamitous investment. Bagwell worked intensely with Abreu, including alongside him at the team’s spring training facility last month during a demotion Abreu consented to take. …Brown intimated he won’t repeat that mistake, but it does invite wonder about the viability of long-term contract extensions for some of the club’s best players. Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman will demand deals that stretch into their age-36 or -37 seasons. Jose Altuve already signed one through his age-39 season but will make just $13 million at both age 38 and 39. “I’m not the type of guy that’s going to be in the habit of signing a lot of older guys,” Brown said. “I think sometimes you have to sign older guys, particularly when you have an opening and you have to plug that opening, you may have to do it. I think the older they get, you should try to go less years.” …Brown and Espada met with Abreu on Friday afternoon to inform him of the club’s decision. Abreu, who was unavailable for comment, handled it “well,” Brown said. “I led this thing myself,” Brown said. “Ultimately, as a GM, I always talk to my owner in terms of giving him my thought process, and I talked to Jim. But I pretty much led the process.” Such specificity seems unwarranted, but this organization mandates it. “Four or five” people make decisions in Houston’s baseball operations department, Hall of Fame adviser Reggie Jackson told a podcast last April. Bagwell and Crane remain very influential. On three occasions Friday, Brown reminded the large group of reporters that Abreu arrived before he did. During one answer, Brown said, “When you guys signed him prior to me getting here, I think when this guy was on the market, there were a lot of teams that liked him.” The Cleveland Guardians, Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres all showed serious interest in Abreu, a former American League rookie of the year and MVP. Still, signing him authored a drastic departure from procedures that put this franchise on a dynastic path. It seemed apparent at the time, but the afterglow of a World Series win masked it. Houston needed a first baseman to defend its championship. Crane acted as his own GM and bought the best one available. It blew up.
To the surprise of absolutely nobody, dubon is a better option at 1st, in every regard. Hopefully we can find him a platoon parter to turn it into a legit good position for us.
My money is on Miami signing him. Small attendance boost from Cuban community, and hope he has a September 2023 like resurgance. Probably too late for it to show up before this trade deadline but maybe over the 2nd half or first half next year. Then they can flip him. Costs nothing but a contender can't take the chance.
