The Astros have struggled badly to open the year as they currently sit dead last in the AL West with a 7-15 record, four games back of Seattle and Texas for the division lead. Club GM Dana Brown recently spoke to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle regarding the club’s deep early season struggles, including commenting on the status of veteran first baseman Jose Abreu.
Abreu, 37, has hit an anemic .073/.148/.091 with a 27.9% strikeout rate and just one extra-base hit in his first 61 trips to the plate this season. While that’s a fairly small sample size, it comes on the heels of a 2023 campaign where he posted a disappointing 86 wRC+ in 141 games. Given the veteran slugger’s lack of success in an Astros uniform, Brown left the door open to the club making some changes regarding his playing time should he continue to struggle. While Brown emphasized that the club will continue to focus on getting Abreu playing time to “see if he can get hot” in the coming days, he also acknowledged that they’ll have to “circle back and make some decisions” if the veteran doesn’t show signs of improvement.
It’s an understandable stance for the club to take, though Abreu is only in the second year of his three-year, $58.5MM pact with the club. The most obvious option for the club at first base should they look to move away from Abreu is Jon Singleton, though the 32-year-old has hardly lit the world on fire himself with a .250/.333/.313 slash line in 13 games this year. Trey Cabbage and Grae Kessinger are among the other plausible options available to the club at first base currently on the 40-man roster.
More from around the AL West…
- Reporting earlier this week indicated that Rangers ace Max Scherzer is ahead of schedule as he rehabs from surgery to repair a herniated disc he underwent over the offseason, and that he was scheduled to throw 40 pitches to live hitters yesterday. According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, that 40-pitch session went off without a hitch and Scherzer had no issues recovering today, meaning the 39-year-old veteran is now on schedule to begin a rehab assignment on Wednesday. The news is a huge shot in the arm for the club’s rotation, which has scuffled somewhat early in the season with a 4.46 FIP entering play today that placed the club ahead of only the White Sox, Rockies, and Cardinals among all major league clubs. Scherzer, who posted a 3.20 ERA and 3.40 FIP in eight starts with Texas last year, would give the club the flexibility to move an arm such as Michael Lorenzen or even Andrew Heaney to the bullpen upon his return.
- Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon exited this evening’s game against the Reds with a right hamstring injury, as relayed by MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger. Rendon sustained the injury while running out an infield single in the top of the first inning. Following the game, Rendon spoke to reporters (including Bollinger) about the injury, noting that his hamstring is feeling “not too great” in the aftermath of the game and that he was feeling some frustration about the constant injuries. Rendon, 34 in June, was once a star infielder for the Nationals and earned a seven-year deal with the Angels in free agency prior to the 2020 campaign. Unfortunately, his career has been completely derailed by injuries in recent years, with just 166 appearances and a 95 wRC+ since the start of the 2021 season. Should the injury result in another trip to the shelf for Rendon, it would be a major blow to the Angels. While the veteran infielder started the season in a 0-for-19 slump, since then he’s started to heat up with a .346/.403/.400 slash line in his last 13 games. In the event Rendon requires a trip to the injured list, the club could rely on Brandon Drury to cover third base in Rendon’s absence, with the club’s bench options, such as Aaron Hicks, Miguel Sano, and Jo Adell, handling DH.
It’s about time Rendon goes down. Made it longer than I thought he would.
Man I think it’s about time the angels just dfa or just straight up release rendon and eat the costs. He’s not a good nor healthy ball player, hasn’t been in years, and I don’t know his clubhouse status but I doubt it’s the greatest. Who would want to share a locker room and play every single day with someone that doesn’t even like the sport he’s paid to play and would rather make asinine comments to the media such as the season should be shorter, and getting into arguments with fans, etc. With him gone you may very well get the same kind of production from some minor leaguer who would absolutely love to be in rendon’s situation, the only difference is he would cherish the moment and bust his tail everyday trying to be a good ball player not only for himself but his team mates and fans alike. Sounds like a win win for everyone, the angels get rid of rendon and his selfish ways, his teammates don’t have to defend him or his antics anymore, a minor leaguer gets to play in the majors, and the fans can watch another ball player who actually enjoys the game. It needs to be done, it should be done!
Eh, this team is going nowhere, not sure it matters. Might be better to start decreasing his playing time to see if he’ll negotiate a deal to retire and save the team some money rather than a DFA.
It seems like rendon would welcome that. I’m of the opinion of inconvenience him(make him rehab and report) until the contract is over. Angels aren’t going anywhere, so rendon can eat a bag of dogsh!t
Absolutely correct on all points. Look at it this way. It is always unfortunate when a toe becomes gangrenous. Unfortunate, but it happens sometimes. When it does happen, that appendage must be amputated to prevent more serious damage to the body. And no, I don’t think maggot therapy would work in this particular case.
“someone that doesn’t even like the sport he’s paid to play”
It’s a job. A man has hobbies outside of work.
B_s_c: How is Rendon selfish?
(And maybe the season IS too long.)
The season should be shorter.
But other than that, Tony Two-Bits hasn’t sparkled with wisdom or savvy timing.
i agree to all of that
He got hurt trying to beat out an infield single, which implies he did “bust his tail” on the play.
As the article says, he was hitting .346/.406/.400 in his last 13 games, which is pretty good.
He’s said and done some dumb things, but I wonder how many commenters have worked jobs they don’t like. And how many would do jobs they don’t like for 7 years and $245M.
I’m not really sure he’s says some dumb things, he’s said some things that fans don’t understand and things that have been twisted.
I’m reading a book on Pete Rose…he said dumb things.
As for Rendon, the Angels are better with him than without him and Rengifo is unplayable .
Hall11Fan,
“Dumb” might not have been the best choice of words, but Rendon certainly hasn’t endeared himself with fans with some of his statements and actions.
Halo, I know your a fan of defensive stats, particularly OAA, so it’s worth mentioning Rengifos OAA is better than Rendons and tied with platinum glove award winner Matt Chapman.
Defensive stats after 3 weeks are pretty trivial.
I guess your camaraderie with your barmates is more important than your family.
aragon, what are you talking about?
And are you directing your comment at me? The way MLBTR’s comments section is laid out, it certainly helps to mention to whom you’re addressing your comment.
Cue the tireless apologists who defend some of these fools who wouldn’t lift a finger in return if their life depended on it. “He can’t help he’s injured often. It’s not like he wants to be hurt.” I think in the case of Rendon he’s successfully torched his credibility, so why should anyone believe his parade of endless IL placements is totally legit? I seriously doubt Rendon would show up at anyone’s workplace to defend them from negative comments made about them at the water cooler.
“In the event Rendon requires a trip to the injured list, the club could rely on Brandon Drury to cover third base in Rendon’s absence, with the club’s bench options, such as Aaron Hicks, Miguel Sano, and Jo Adell, handling DH.“
That’s not happening. Drury will remain at 2B with Sanó and Rengifo sharing 3B duties. Might even call up Hunter Dozier but he’s struggling at triple-A.
Rengifo is unplayable. Anyone who watches Angel games should know that. I’d like to see Sano and Adell get regular ABs.
I second that!
Rendon earned that contract? Good thing because that was the last thing he’s earned.
Should change the verbiage to more accurately report “Rendon [feigned] some frustration with all the recurring injuries.” He doesn’t care, the pay is the same whether he’s injured or playing.
Of course he cares. But baseball isn’t his life. Gale Sayers writes a book, “I Am Third”, where Football is not in the top three, and is canonized, Rendon says basically the same thing and is demonized.
I really think you people are zombies and let talking heads think for you.
Phony Rendony made the comments about baseball not being a priority coming off the heels of some extremely disappointing seasons. Tone deaf timing and an overall ridiculous thing to even say out loud to the media given his track record as a Halo.
I agree with him being pretty tone-deaf with his “priorities” and then the “no English” spiel didn’t help his cause. Rendon is an entertainer and a representative of his team whether he likes it or not.
Saying your job is your #1 priority in life is deranged
Not really when he already has enough to live off without baseball. I retired early to stay home to be with my family.
He didn’t retire…he’s still collecting a salary.
Let’s not forget, picking fights with fans.. four years to play a seasons worth of games.. he’s garbage and a cancer to the team. Anyone watch the replay of his limping down the stairs to the clubhouse and every teammate standing there watching… they were all thinking, if this one was real or not too.
Excellent post, Halo!
How are we letting talking heads think for us when we are going by what the man has actually said and his own actions on and off the field?? It’s easy to deduce that this guy is a POS, does not keep himself in game ready condition, does not respect the game of baseball or his employer who pays him 35million a year to play a kids game…it’s not a media narrative when he’s all so blatant in his own words and actions how he doesn’t give a flying F. I guess you are proud of being the lone member of the Anthony Rendon Fan Club. Just seems like a weird guy to rally around and root for.
Brandon Belt could likely put up better numbers than Abreu but uh yeah
The alarming thing is the mention of Singleton, Cabbage or Kessinger as alternatives. It is beyond belief that Singleton is even now getting playing time.
Espada is starting to look like Baker in the way he is constructing some of his lineups lately and that is not a good thing.
Astros could sign Brandon Belt.
Millions for another aging guy? They’d really look like idiots if that flopped.
I think they should look within the system. It is hard to imagine that Cabbage or Loperfido wouldn’t perform better than Abreu.
Rendon starts off slow, heats up, goes on IL, returns in 3+ weeks, starts slow, heats up, goes on IL, etc. After 50 games or three cycles of starts, stops and injuries, Rendon shuts it down for the season. Did I miss anything? Oh yes, pass “go” and collect $38 million.
That’s about right
Well, at least he’s trying.
Very trying.
“with just 166 appearances and a 95 wRC+ since the start of the 2021 season” is just flat out wrong for Rendon
OK, he’s actually played in 167 games since the start of 2021; that is, 33% of all possible games. And his average OPS+ during that span is 92, never exceeding 100 during that period.
SELL THE TEAM
Abreu is not 37. No way. I would say minimum 40 and probably 42.
45
46.
Joey Loperfido will probably be the first baseman of the future. He’s getting reps in AAA now. He has the chance of being something special if he can get his strikeout percentage down.
There are options, all are likely better than Abreu. Loperfido leads MiLB with 10 HR and he’s very flexible position wise. Cabbage is also an attractive option. While both of them will strike out a fair amount, but it’s hard for me to believe they won’t be better than Abreu.
I think everybody knows it’s time to move on from a bad investment.
It is crazy to think Rendon has yet to even eclipse 1,000 PA nor 800 at-bats with this being his FIFTH SEASON with the Angels!!
And in all of those ABs he hasn’t even eclipsed 70 XBH…
Honestly, I never saw this coming for Rendon. I thought he was a premiere player set to age gracefully on his way to an excellent, borderline HOF career.
He was a star performer for the Nats but apparently didn’t like the vibes in DC, so he signed with the Angels in another massive overpay by Arte Moreno.
Since then he’s been about an AAAA player, at best, even when not on the IL.
Is Yuli available?
Yuli has already signed a deal this year.
This is a classic warning that dishing out big contracts is inherently risky. 275mill for Rendon is far too much. Its nice to see the Boris 4 get reduced salaries this year as it doesnt handcuff their teams. And Snell has been garbage so far… Abreu was 36 into his first Astros year, feel it was a big overpay when the downside risk was big.
I posted this on the Adrianza story:
The Baffling Quotation of the Season, from Angels pitcher Patrick Sandoval, about Anthony Rendon and his latest injury:
““It’s gut-wrenching,” Sandoval said. “That guy means a lot to this team. To see him work his way back from all these injuries and the work ethic he has, the passion for the game that he has and the passion he has as a leader for this team and helping everyone here, it’s gut-wrenching.”
It’s the first anyone has heard about Rendon’s “passion for the game” and “leadership” since Rendon’s remarks that ““This [playing baseball] has never been a top priority,” Rendon said. “This is a job. I do this to make a living.”
Are there any White Sox fans still out there pining for the return of Abreu and Nick Madrigal?
Rendon
Poster child for telling players to go shove their contract demands where the sun don’t shine