The thought of the defending World Series champion Houston Astros adding Jose Abreu to an already stout lineup was terrifying. Abreu saw his power take a bit of a dip the season prior to him signing a three-year deal with Houston, but still posted a 134 OPS+ and placed 17th in the AL MVP balloting.
The Astros had a need at first base, so Abreu was a natural fit. Unfortunately, he just hasn’t been the same player since signing the contract. He had an abysmal 2023 regular season and after he showed some signs of life in the postseason, he’s been even worse to start this season.
Abreu entered play on Wednesday with four hits in 49 at-bats (.082 BA) with only one extra-base hit (a double) and one RBI. He continued to struggle on Wednesday with a devastating misplay in the field and he was immediately pinch hit for in a tie game.
The Astros fell to 6-14 with their latest loss. One way they can start to turn this ship around is by replacing Abreu. They already hinted at it by hitting Jon Singleton for him. Here are three options for them to consider.
3) The Astros can trade for Josh Bell to replace Jose Abreu
The Miami Marlins are a disaster. They sit at 4-15 on the season after losing two of three at home to the Giants and could already be looking ahead to 2025. This is not what Marlins fans wanted to hear after their shocking postseason appearance last season, but this is the reality of the situation.
The chances of this team recovering are slim with Sandy Alcantara and Eury Perez, the team’s two best pitchers, out for the year. Shorter-term injuries to guys like Jake Burger and Braxton Garrett don’t help either.
With the Marlins looking like clear sellers, Josh Bell is a name for Astros fans to keep an eye on. He’s gotten off to a bad start this season with just a .664 OPS, but that’s still over 400 points higher than Abreu. He’s in the final year of his deal, and barring a sudden hot streak, he wouldn’t cost much to acquire.
Bell is a switch-hitter who, when he gets hot, can be a major contributor. Just last season he had a .818 OPS after getting traded to the Marlins. The bottom line here is he can’t be much worse than Abreu. If it doesn’t work, they can try something else next season. It shouldn’t cost much to get him, and he could easily turn things around when surrounded by better players in a more hitter-friendly ballpark.
2) The Astros can end Brandon Belt’s misery to replace Jose Abreu
Brandon Belt is one of many free agents who has lingered around in free agency longer than he should have, and for whatever reason, he’s still sitting unsigned.
He might be 35 years old, but Abreu is 37! The Astros gave Abreu a three-year deal entering his age 36 season. Giving Belt a one-year deal at that same age is a no-brainer, and that’s all it’d take.
Belt, despite his older age, was fantastic last season for the Blue Jays, slashing .254/.369/.490 with 19 home runs and 43 RBI in 103 games. He was primarily used at DH and only really played against right-handed pitching. Still, he can feast against righties at first base and Houston can still play Abreu against southpaws. Perhaps a lesser role for now can wake Abreu up, and Belt can be a real impact bat.
Again, this comes with little risk and the chance for actual reward. He cannot possibly be worse than Abreu, would come extremely cheap, and can be a game-changer.
1) The Astros can promote Joey Loperfido to replace Jose Abreu
This would be the most intriguing and perhaps the best option that the Astros have. Joey Loperfido put his name on the map with a torrid Spring Training, and has kept that going to begin his season in AAA.
The 24-year-old has hit ten home runs in 15 games and 60 at-bats this season. No, that’s not a typo. He is forcing Houston’s hand.
Loperfido has primarily been an outfielder in his minor league career, but has played some first base this season, potentially to prepare to be an Abreu replacement. Despite his minimal experience at the position, Loperfido has been better than they expected defensively.
If he performs at the big league level, the Astros might have their first baseman not only for 2024, but for the future. At this point, it makes no sense to keep him down. He might provide the spark that the Astros desperately need.
This article was originally published on fansided.com as Astros 3 best options to end the Jose Abreu disaster once and for all.
News Related
-
Anyone who’s purchased gift baskets to hand out to loved ones this holiday season might need to find a backup present after the latest food recall that involves festive cookies. Gift basket company Wine Country Gift Baskets just announced that it is voluntarily recalling all gift baskets that feature Acorn Baking ...
See Details:
Recall Just Announced For Popular Cookies Featured In Holiday Gift Baskets
-
LOS ANGELES: Quarterback Jalen Hurts ran in an overtime touchdown to give the Philadelphia Eagles a 37-34 NFL win over the Buffalo Bills Sunday (Monday in Manila) and move them to 10-1 on the season. The Eagles, who lost the Super Bowl to Kansas City last season, trailed at half-time ...
See Details:
Eagles rally past Bills in overtime as Chiefs win
-
Yen Makabenta First word WHILE UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other promoters of the climate emergency are preparing to convene the 28th conference of the parties (COP28) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the United Arab Emirates, starting on November 30 and stretching to December 12, ...
See Details:
Reality bites the green energy agenda
-
Sandigan orders Marcos Sr. pal to pay workers The Sandiganbayan has ordered the enforcement of a July 2023 ruling ordering a Marcos Sr. associate to pay a lumber company’s workers P2.1 million in damages as well as return 60 percent of their company’s shares and pay all unpaid benefits. The ...
See Details:
Sandigan orders Marcos Sr. pal to pay workers
-
DSWD: Shear line, LPA affect 1.2 million people; over 18,000 families evacuated MANILA, Philippines – More than 18,000 families have fled to evacuation centers across flood-affected regions in the country due to the impact of the shear line and low pressure area. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) gave ...
See Details:
DSWD: Shear line, LPA affect 1.2 million people; over 18,000 families evacuated
-
-
MANILA, Philippines: The entire Luzon, including Metro Manila, is expected to experience isolated rain showers and thunderstorms as the northeast monsoon (“amihan”) and easterlies will be affecting the country over the next 24 hours, the state-run weather agency said on Tuesday. Weather specialist Patrick del Mundo of the Philippine Atmospheric ...
See Details:
Rain showers, thunderstorms over Luzon, including Metro Manila — Pagasa
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
'Naruto' live-action film adaptation is in the works
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
NASA Highlights Stingray Nebula
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
Manila's Lagusnilad underpass opens
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
China probes debt-ridden financial giant
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
China's VUCA situation
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
Unraveling the mystery that is diabetes
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
Bangladesh's nuke plant is not going to steal PH investments
OTHER NEWS
ALIW Awards Foundation Inc. President Alice H. Reyes has released the names of finalists for the 2023 Aliw Awards to be presented on Dec. 11, 2023, at the Manila Hotel ...
Read more »
WhatsApp Web gains the feature of single-view photos and videos (Photo: Unsplash) The WhatsApp Web, the desktop version of the popular messaging app from Meta, has received an update allowing ...
Read more »
Young athletes’ time to shine in Siklab Awards MANILA, Philippines — The future heroes of Philippine sports will be honored during the third Siklab Youth Sports Awards on Dec. 4 ...
Read more »
Graphics by Jannielyn Ann Bigtas A local government official said Monday that five to 10 barangays in Northern Samar are still isolated following the massive flooding in the area last ...
Read more »
DyipPay app lets you pay jeepney fare, book tricycles “Barya lang po sa umaga.” Everyone who rides jeepneys knows this rule: it may not be an actual law, but it’s ...
Read more »
Updated In-Season Tournament Bracket ahead of pool play finale Tuesday will mark the last day of pool play for the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. From there, six first-place teams and ...
Read more »
PCG forms teams for maritime emergency response MANILA, Philippines — Recent incidents of fishermen lost in the waters off Southern Tagalog have prompted the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to form ...
Read more »