José Abreu absolutely knew he was gone on the ultimate day of the 2022 season when he opted to sit down and watch the final recreation of his Chicago White Sox profession from the dugout.
Abreu issued a press release by way of White Sox public relations that morning, explaining he requested interim supervisor Miguel Cairo for the time without work “to enjoy this game with him and have the manager’s perspective.” He then sat on the reverse finish of the dugout from Cairo throughout a 10-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins.
Abreu didn’t desire a lengthy goodbye, so he left with none send-off from the Sox group or the staff’s followers. No standing ovations. Not even a lot as a wave. What he was considering that day was anybody’s guess, and he didn’t converse afterward.
The low-key departure was a little bit odd for a participant of Abreu’s stature on the South Side. And the choice to keep away from undesirable consideration was made much more evident by the nonstop goodbyes Willson Contreras acquired in his last three months as a Chicago Cub.
But that actually was the top, as we discovered Monday.
Confirming experiences from earlier within the day, the World Series champion Houston Astros introduced they signed Abreu to a three-year contract, which was neither shocking nor worthy of teeth-gnashing from upset Sox followers.
Everyone appeared to agree it was time to go, besides maybe for Abreu. He quickly will discover there’s life outdoors the South Side and little doubt will get his “welcome back” salute subsequent yr at Sox Park.
General supervisor Rick Hahn, who drafted Andrew Vaughn in 2019 to ultimately take Abreu’s place, had no alternative however to maneuver on from the veteran with Vaughn so miscast within the outfield. Another yr of watching Vaughn try to play left or proper discipline would’ve been a catastrophe for a staff that desperately wants to enhance defensively to grow to be a authentic contender.
Vaughn stays an unproven hitter regardless of what was thought-about a breakthrough season. After a sizzling first half through which he hit .301 with an .819 OPS, he dropped to .234 within the second half with a .666 OPS. If that’s what the Sox get in 2023, they’re in hassle. Abreu posted an .860 OPS over 9 seasons. Those are large sneakers to fill.
The designated hitter spot additionally wasn’t suited to Abreu, who prefers to be within the discipline and began solely 199 video games at DH, about 22 per season. Even that was too many for him, and three Sox managers — Robin Ventura, Rick Renteria and Tony La Russa — appeased Abreu by refusing to make him even a part-time DH.
Of course the Sox nonetheless have a surplus of DH varieties, together with Eloy Jiménez, Yasmani Grandal and Gavin Sheets, so even when Abreu had been prepared for such a transition, there have been too many cooks within the kitchen to accommodate one other.
The lack of Abreu, the Sox’s most constant hitter during the last decade, might be felt within the clubhouse, particularly within the nook the place he was a father determine to Jimenez, Yoán Moncada and Luis Robert. But everybody has to go away the nest sooner or later, and all three have been round lengthy sufficient to get by with out Abreu. Maybe they may use some rising up.
In an ideal world, Abreu in all probability would’ve been on the Sox for all times, ready for his No. 79 jersey to be retired on his day. He definitely talked like a person who needed to remain eternally.
Even although he went by way of the agony of the Sox rebuild, Abreu mentioned earlier than his free-agent season in 2019 that he would do something potential to re-sign.
“If I was the owner, I’d sign myself,” he mentioned.
Despite ending second within the majors that yr with 123 RBIs, he negotiated completely with the Sox, re-signing for a team-friendly three-year, $50 million deal.
“I don’t care about money,” he informed me in English throughout spring coaching 2020. It was a household choice, he added.
“We feel comfortable in Chicago,” he mentioned, reverting to Spanish. “For us, it didn’t make sense to look around to other places.”
Abreu received the American League MVP award that yr within the pandemic-shortened season, serving to lead the Sox to their first postseason look in 12 years. He additionally was a voice of purpose within the clubhouse, admitting the gamers “relaxed a little bit” and received “caught in the moment” after clinching a postseason spot. The Sox fell from the highest AL seed to No. 7 within the expanded playoffs, and after they misplaced to the Oakland Athletics within the first spherical, Renteria was fired.
Abreu turns 36 in January, although many have speculated he’s older. Either method, a three-year deal might be dangerous for the Astros. Abreu’s energy was down final season, when he hit solely 15 dwelling runs. But his exit velocity remained excessive, suggesting he isn’t near dropping it, as many sluggers do of their late 30s.
Hitting in the course of a loaded Astros lineup and enjoying for a gamers’ supervisor in Dusty Baker, he ought to mix in nicely in his new dwelling, making issues harder for the Sox.
But life goes on. Hahn, who started the offseason by signing underrated free-agent starter Mike Clevinger to fill a spot within the rotation, has far more work to do to get Sox followers excited a couple of rebound in 2023. New supervisor Pedro Grifol received’t promote tickets, and with Abreu gone the one actual drawing card is shortstop Tim Anderson.
The winter conferences, which start Monday in San Diego, might be necessary for Hahn, particularly after what the fan base went by way of this yr. He’s strolling a tightrope with no security internet — no room for missteps.
Hahn doesn’t need to “win” the conferences, however he has to win again Sox followers. Trusting the method received’t be sufficient this time.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com