Jose Abreu is a Metronome of Power for the White Sox

Abreu has repeatedly said that he wants to finish his career with the White Sox. After his initial deal expired following the 2019 season, he agreed to a three-year $50-million contract.

“The last time he was a free agent, Jose said, ‘Even if they don’t re-sign me, I’m going to sign myself back here,’” Hahn said, before laughing. “And Jerry Reinsdorf, our owner said, ‘I don’t want Jose ever playing a game in another team’s uniform.’ And I pointed out this probably is not how you teach negotiation in college negotiation classes. But I won’t be surprised if a similar mentality is in play the next time.”

For Abreu, the White Sox are a perfect fit. The team has a long history of acquiring Cuban players — starting with a trade for outfielder Minnie Minoso, who was considered the first Black Latino star in the major leagues in 1951 — and Abreu has carried on that torch with pride.

So when the White Sox traded for Moncada, a former teammate of Abreu’s in Cuba, in July 2017, Abreu insisted on picking him up from the airport instead of the team sending a car. Abreu has taken Luis Robert, another Cuban; Moncada and Jimenez, who is from the Dominican Republic, under his wing and calls them his sons — and the group of players in their mid 20s have blossomed with the White Sox.

When Romy Gonzalez was called up to the major leagues this month, he said Abreu approached him on his first day with the team and told him, “If you ever need anything, let me know.” And over the coming weeks, Abreu and Gonzalez, a Cuban American raised in Miami, have talked more, including about their shared heritage.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/18/sports/baseball/jose-abreu-white-sox.html