Andy MacPhail introduced by the Phillies. And the first topic of conversation is sabermetrics - MLB

The presser we mentioned this morning in which Andy MacPhail was to be announced as the Phillies new president is going on. The Phillies issued this statement, and it has a slight wrinkle to it. He’s really just the president-in-waiting, and will officially take over at the end of the year:

Information on the #Phillies hiring of Andy MacPhail: pic.twitter.com/UOAnWmAJpa

— Phillies (@Phillies) June 29, 2015

I’d read that as “we want MacPhail to have one job and one job only for the rest of the year: figure out who to get to replace Ruben Amaro.”

Of greater note: the Phillies’ organizational philosophy is going to change:

Andy MacPhail says Sabermetrics is of intense interest to Phillies ownership now. #CultureChange pic.twitter.com/oYuYFtLdG0

— John Clark CSN (@JClarkCSN) June 29, 2015

If you’re a general manager who revealed a year ago that you don’t know the difference between an at bat and a plate appearance, well, that may not be a good thing for you.

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.