White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu will return to the team for the 2020 season after accepting a one-year, $17.8 million qualifying offer. The three-time All-Star will be eligible to hit free agency without any restrictions next offseason unless he signs an extension with the South Siders.
Abreu, who turns 33 in January, played well in 2019 with a .284/.330/.503 batting line, 33 home runs and an American-League leading 123 RBI. His value gets dinged by his lack of contributions as a fielder or baserunner, but he’s still been worth at least 2.4 wins above replacement in five of his six MLB seasons, according to Baseball-Reference.
He’s back. pic.twitter.com/MjHF31MLZs
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) November 14, 2019
Abreu could’ve turned down the qualifying offer in order to hit free agency, but any team that signed him would’ve been required to give the Sox a draft pick as compensation. Rather than take on that uncertain situation, Abreu opted for a lucrative one-year pact that allows him to return to the only big league team he’s ever played for.
Twins starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi was the only other player to accept a qualifying offer this year, per ESPN.
The White Sox signed Abreu out of Cuba in 2014 and he immediately made a big impact as the AL Rookie of the Year. He’s recorded at least 25 home runs and 100 RBI in five of his six big league seasons.
