Chicago Cubs interest in Jose Abreu makes perfect sense

Even if Jose Abreu does not return to the Chicago White Sox, he may not need to change cities.

According to reports, Abreu will not be lacking for suitors. The Chicago Cubs are expected to emerge as one of his top suitors and are actually considered to be more likely to sign Abreu than the White Sox.

Jose Abreu a perfect fit for Chicago Cubs

The Cubs make plenty of sense for Abreu. They have a hole at first as Alfonso Rivas just did not hit and Frank Schwindel was released in September. The Cubs are also looking to get out of their rebuild quickly and could use another run producer as they attempt to do so.

Abreu would be exactly that. He posted a strong .304/.378/.446 batting line in his 679 plate appearances, hitting 15 homers and 40 doubles. He has a proven track record as a run producer and power threat, leading the American League in RBI twice while posting six seasons where he hit at least 30 homers.

There are some concerns. Abreu’s power was down in 2022 as his slugging percentage declined by 35 points. He will also be 36 years old at the start of the 2023 campaign, his career clearly winding down at this point.

But it may be premature to say that the end is coming for Abreu just yet. He still posted an impressive 51.8% hard hit rate, ranking in the 97th percentile in the majors. His 92.2 MPH average exit velocity ranked in the 93rd percentile. He continued to draw walks, cut down on his strikeouts, and his Statcast page is filled with red when it comes to his performance at the plate.

Bringing Abreu on board could also work for the future. Prospect Matt Mervis is not that far away after an impressive 2022 campaign and could debut at some point next season. While it is possible that he could win a job out of spring training, the Cubs may want to see him get more experience at Triple-A first. Even then, having Abreu on the roster, and allowing the two to alternate between first and the designated hitter slot, will take some of the pressure off of Mervis to perform at a high level immediately.

The Chicago Cubs are reportedly interested in Jose Abreu. He would be a perfect fit as they look to emerge from their rebuilding process.