Yesterday Jonathan Papelbon pitched in a minor league game, in which he gave up two runs to Twins’ Double-A players. His reaction:
“This was exactly what I wanted.”
He’s referring to the fact that he got work in and was focusing on his mechanics, but it’s also worth noting that he has a 12.60 ERA this spring. At some point you’d think that getting dudes out is exactly what he wants.
(thanks to Erik for the heads up)
HOUSTON — Jose Abreu and the World Series champion Astros agreed to a three-year, $58.5 million contract, adding another powerful bat to Houston’s lineup.
Abreu, the 2020 AL MVP, gets $19.5 million in each of the next three seasons.
He spent his first nine major league seasons with the Chicago White Sox. The first baseman became a free agent after batting .304 with 15 home runs, 75 RBIs and an .824 OPS this year.
With the Astros, he replaces Yuli Gurriel at first base in a batting order that also features All-Star sluggers Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker.
Gurriel became a free agent after Houston defeated the Philadelphia Phillies this month for its second World Series championship.
The 35-year-old Abreu becomes the biggest free agent to switch teams so far this offseason. Born in Cuba, the three-time All-Star and 2014 AL Rookie of the Year is a .292 career hitter in the majors with 243 homers, 863 RBIs and an .860 OPS.
The Astros announced the signing. Abreu was scheduled to be introduced in a news conference at Minute Maid Park.
He would get a $200,000 for winning an MVP award, $175,000 for finishing second in the voting, $150,000 for third, $125,000 for fourth and $100,000 for fifth. Abreu also would get $100,000 for earning World Series MVP and $75,000 for League Championship Series MVP, $75,000 for making the All-Star team and $75,000 for winning a Gold Glove or a Silver Slugger.
Abreu gets a hotel suite on road trips and the right to buy a luxury suite for all Astros home games.