Astros Notes: Abreu, Garcia, Tucker

Though prior indications have been that Jose Abreu may return to the Astros for this Friday’s collection opener towards the A’s, it appears his non-compulsory task within the minors will final a minimum of a bit longer. Supervisor Joe Espada instructed the Astros beat at the moment that Abreu will play video games with the group’s Arizona Advanced League affiliate at the moment and tomorrow earlier than heading to Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday (X link by way of Brian McTaggart of MLB.com). A return later within the weekend collection hasn’t been dominated out, however the group isn’t formally committing to a timeline at this level.

Abreu, 37, fairly surprisingly agreed to an non-compulsory task earlier this yr after enduring the worst stretch of his main league profession. The previous AL MVP opened the season mired in a calamitous droop, hitting simply .099/.156/.113 in 77 plate appearances. He’s presently 6-for-18 with a pair of doubles, a stroll and two strikeouts — albeit towards Rookie-level competitors. Any signal of life from Abreu is an encouraging step, given his terrible begin to the season, nonetheless. It appears he’ll get a minimum of a recreation or two towards extra superior Triple-A contest after that confidence booster and psychological reset within the ACL.

Abreu is within the second season of a three-year, $58.5MM free agent contract signed when the Astros have been working with out a common supervisor in place. Proprietor Jim Crane largely oversaw baseball operations between the shock ouster of former GM James Click on and the hiring of present common supervisor Dana Brown. That contract provides the membership loads of incentive to attempt to get Abreu again on monitor, tough as his time with the group has been to this point. Since placing pen to paper, Abreu has mustered solely a .221/.280/.352 batting line in 671 plate appearances.

In Abreu’s absence, Jon Singleton has taken up the on a regular basis first base job. He’s turned in a .224/.346/.448 slash in 81 plate appearances with Abreu off the roster, although a lot of his injury got here within the first few video games following Abreu’s demotion. Singleton homered final evening, however that was his first extra-base hit in almost two weeks. Between Singleton and Abreu, Houston first basemen have posted a mixed .170/.260/.275 line on the season.

Woeful first base manufacturing has been simply one in all many points for a disappointing Houston membership. The Astros’ injury-plagued beginning employees has seen main regression from Hunter Brown and J.P. France whereas rookie Spencer Arrighetti has struggled in his debut marketing campaign. Righty Ronel Blanco is within the midst of a breakout, however stalwart lefty Framber Valdez has been inconsistent. Every of Valdez, Justin Verlander and Cristian Javier has hung out on the injured listing already this season.

The Astros are awaiting the eventual returns of notable arms like Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr., each of whom opened the yr on the injured listing whereas rehabbing from main surgical procedures. Garcia took a notable step in his restoration this week, throwing off the mound at Minute Maid Park, tweets Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle.

The 27-year-old Garcia underwent Tommy John surgical procedure early final Might, so he’s now previous the one-year mark in his restoration. He’ll nonetheless have to face hitters in stay batting apply/simulated video games earlier than heading out on a minor league rehab task, so a return isn’t nigh simply but. On the similar time, it’s encouraging that he’s progressed to mound work and has but to incur any kind of setback. In 352 innings from 2020-23, Garcia pitched to a 3.61 ERA with a 25.3% strikeout fee and seven.8% stroll fee.

Even because the Astros navigate these shorter-term points, there are nonetheless big-picture objects to contemplate. Brown has stated numerous occasions since being employed that he hopes to increase outfielder Kyle Tucker and hold the previous No. 5 total decide in Houston for his whole profession. He did so once more at the moment, showing on the Sean Salisbury Present on SportsTalk 790 and stating (X links by way of 790’s Brian LaLima):

“At the moment, not speaking extension. We love Kyle Tucker. We now have him below contract til 2025. I talked to his agent throughout spring coaching however proper now we aren’t in dialogue. We’d love him to retire right here if potential. He is aware of we need to signal him right here and his agent is aware of we need to signal him right here. Sooner or later, we’ll get a suggestion to him.”

At this level, Astros followers certainly take such quotes with a grain of salt. The Astros rapidly prolonged the aforementioned Javier after Brown was employed and have since hammered out a brand new long-term cope with Jose Altuve, however Brown has routinely made public feedback about his want to increase Tucker, Alex Bregman, Valdez and others with out talks ever showing to realize actual steam. That he’s suggesting the group “will get a suggestion” to Tucker “sooner or later” appears a transparent indicator that there haven’t but been critical negotiations. Given Tucker’s rising proximity to free company and his ascension to bona fide MVP candidate, it’s robust to check a deal coming collectively.

Tucker, 27, was already a wonderful hitter from 2021-23, however this yr’s offensive output is on an entire new degree. In 215 journeys to the plate, he’s slashing .293/.425/.649 — a mammoth 101% higher than the common hitter, by measure of wRC+. Tucker has already belted 17 house runs (one each 12.6 plate appearances) and has walked greater than he’s struck out (18.6% to 16.7%).

That degree of manufacturing, coupled with the truth that Tucker will attain the open market heading into his age-29 season, ought to place him for the kind of long-term megadeal from which Crane has shied away. The Astros haven’t given out a contract longer than Yordan Alvarez’s six-year, $115MM extension below Crane’s possession, and the $151MM in new cash that was assured to Altuve on the second of his three Astros extensions is the biggest sum Crane has dedicated directly. Tucker may realistically double that sum (after which some) in free company.