New Chicago White Sox skipper Pedro Grifol isn’t sure if first baseman Jose Abreu will return to the team next season.
“I think all 30 managers want to see Jose Abreu in their lineup … but again, we have to sit down and see how this roster shakes out … and see where we go from there,” Grifol said Thursday when asked if he would like to see the longtime White Sox slugger in his managerial future, according to NBC Sports Chicago.
Abreu, who’s spent his entire nine-year career with Chicago, is eligible to test free agency when his three-year, $50-million contract ends at the conclusion of the World Series.
However, the White Sox are currently projected to start Andrew Vaughn at first base heading into 2023. The former top prospect went deep 17 times with 76 RBIs and a .750 OPS during his age-24 season. He isn’t arbitration-eligible until 2024.
Abreu owns a .292/.354/.506 slash line with 243 homers and 863 RBIs over 1,270 games with Chicago. The 35-year-old hit a career-low 15 round-trippers in 2022 but still accrued an .824 OPS over 157 contests. He was named 2020 AL MVP during the pandemic-shortened campaign, won Rookie of the Year in 2014, and has received three All-Star nods.
