Miami Marlins were lucky not to sign this slugger

The Miami Marlins are not known for making great signings or trades in recent memory. Just remember this horrible trade. The non-signings are often talked about as well. A Miami team not being able to sign the top free agents has always been frustrating. This is especially frustrating when the city was chosen by the best player in the NBA at the time. It was also chosen by the best player in another sport. Yet you wouldn't expect The Fish in on Juan Soto this winter.

The Miami Marlins were right not to sign Jose Abreu.

I called it. I said that the Miami Marlins signing first baseman Jose Abreu would've been a mistake and I was right. I'm sorry for the humble brag, but it seemed everyone was disappointed that The Fish didn't sign the Cuban slugger. Abreu calling Little Havana his home and boosting the Marlins lineup seemed a perfect fit. Especially when he was expected to be cheaper based on his age.

Jose Abreu used to be an elite bat. From 2014 to 2021, Abreu batted .290/.350/.515 for the Chicago White Sox. He received votes for the AL MVP award in 6 of those seasons. He also won the award in the shortened 2020 season. That season, he batted an amazing .317/.370/.617, with 19 home runs and 60 RBI in 60 games and 240 AB. He was 33 at the time and clearly still in his prime.

The worries for Abreu began in the 2022 season. His last before free agency. He batted .304/.378/.446, with 15 home runs and 75 RBI in 157 games and 601 AB. The power outage was concerning, as was the fact that he was now 35 years old. He signed with the Houston Astros after that season. In his first season with the team in 2023, he batted a very disappointing .237/.296/.383, with 18 home runs and 90 RBI in 141 games and 540 AB.

It was even worse for Jose Abreu in 2024, when he batted .124/.167/.195, with 2 home runs and 7 RBI in 35 games and 113 AB. Houston released him last month and had to eat close to $30 million in the process. Now imagine if the Miami Marlins were stuck with him instead? Would Bruce Sherman feel comfortable spending on free agents after this? We avoided a major blunder.