MLB Rumors: Jose Abreu Has Interest In Two Unexpected Teams

Jose Abreu has been a "professional hitter" and a clubhouse leader for nine years with the Chicago White Sox. He was the 2020 AL MVP. But as a free agent going into his age-36 season, the Pale Hose have decided to move on from Abreu, going with the youth of Andrew Vaughn at first base instead. 

There are plenty of teams interested in the reliable slugger, but a new report from MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic posits that Abreu has his eye on the two Florida teams, the Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays as his potential destinations.

One executive with a pulse on the market senses that the free-agent first baseman is intrigued by the possibility of playing for one of the two Florida teams.

Abreu, a native of Cuba who turns 36 on Jan. 29, owns a home south of Miami.

As noted by Rosenthal, the Rays and Marlins are not exactly the game's biggest spenders in free agency, so there could be some difficulty for Abreu to extract a contract from either of those teams that is to his satisfaction. 

If he's more interested in playing for a real World Series contender, however, there are two teams on our list of 3 interested suitors that we reported on last week that would more closely fit the bill. 

Abreu has been as reliable as they come at first base in the big leagues over the past nine years, consistently hitting not too far from .300 with an OPS in the mid-.800s. He can usually be counted on for 150+ games played, and about 30 home runs as well, though his power in that department dipped a bit in 2022, with only 15 homers. But he still posted a .304 average with an .824 OPS. 

The Rays recently traded one of their first basemen, Ji-Man Choi, and are certainly in the market for a boost at the position. The Marlins, as well, could use a productive bat at first, and, really, anywhere in their lineup.

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