Luis Robert wants White Sox to bring Abreu back
Chicago White Sox slugger Jose Abreu could test free agency this winter, but if it were up to Luis Robert, the former AL MVP wouldn't play anywhere else.
"Yeah, 100%," Robert said when asked if the White Sox should bring Abreu back, according to James Fegan of The Athletic.
Abreu, 35, has never tested the open market throughout his nine years in Major League Baseball. The first baseman defected from Cuba to sign a six-year, $68-million contract with the White Sox in 2014. Before that deal expired, he signed a three-year, $50-million extension that kicked in ahead of the 2020 campaign that is now set to expire.
It's been a disappointing season for Chicago, currently 76-78 with only a remote chance of climbing into the AL wild-card picture after the Cleveland Guardians clinched the AL Central.
However, Abreu has been predictably great, hitting .303/.376/.442 with 15 homers over 151 games. The three-time All-Star will be a top free-agent option at first base, alongside Anthony Rizzo, Trey Mancini, Eric Hosmer, and Brandon Belt.
Even Robert performed well during an injury-plagued campaign. The 25-year-old budding outfield star hit .284/.319/.426 with 12 dingers and 11 steals in 98 contests. That is somewhat of a disappointment following his breakout 2021 campaign, during which he authored a .946 OPS (154 OPS+).