Just a few weeks after we stumbled upon former Yankees righty Albert Abreu's current nomadic state, he's found a new home back in MLB.
Abreu left MLB after the 2023 season to try his luck overseas in Japan. That's become quite a successful pipeline in recent years, and is no longer an end-of-career last resort. Abreu's always had all the talent in the world (from a fastball perspective), but could never pair his electric heater with anything of value, and always managed to get whomped in the zone.
Heading out of the spotlight for a season could've done him wonders, but ... given that he was still available in late January, with very little demand for his services, the 28 saves and 2.39 ERA he netted with the Seibu Lions didn't seem to move the needle much. He didn't exactly create the same level of buzz that, say, lefty Kyle Hart did in the KBO.
Although ... as of Thursday, Abreu officially signed before Hart, so who's the idiot now?! The Cincinnati Reds, who've been extremely active lately, will welcome Abreu to the Queen City on a minor-league pact with an invite to spring training.
The Reds are signing right-hander Albert Abreu to a minor-league contract, source says. The deal includes an invite to spring training.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) January 30, 2025
Reds sign former Yankees reliever Albert Abreu to minor-league deal
Surely, he'll wind up back with the Yankees by midseason, just like last time he was sent off the roster to Texas.
Abreu initially came to New York as the prospect headliner in the Brian McCann trade, and regularly ranked inside the Yankees' Top 10, according to most prospect platforms. Of course, you know how this ended; McCann awakened from his slumber to send the Yankees home in the ALCS, and Abreu got stuck in the bullpen, unable to harness his high-upside heater.
He was originally traded away in the Jose Trevino deal, but after both Texas and Kansas City cut him loose in 2022, the Yankees came calling as an attempted fixer. He posted a 3.16 ERA/2.92 FIP down the stretch that year in 22 games (fixed!) before regressing to a 4.73/5.26 mark in 59 innings during the nightmarish 2023 season.
Now, like Bill Belichick once said, it's on to Cincinnati. For at least a month or two.