Forgotten former integral Yankees reliever disappears into background of free agency

Adam Weinrib

Houston Astros v New York Yankees / Adam Hunger/GettyImages

Occasionally, going overseas can reverse a pitcher's fortunes in the span of just one year. Look at Kyle Hart, owner of a career 15.55 MLB ERA, who's now fielding a fleet of five interested teams after rebounding in KBO.

Other times? It can lead to a previously integral member of an MLB staff fading further into obscurity, even if the overseas numbers were fairly impressive. When that happens, it only shines a more powerful spotlight on the musty corners of certain teams' bullpen plans. In 2023, Albert Abreu was essential to the Yankees for far longer than he should've been.

In 2025, he's hanging out in purgatory between the Seibu Lions and MLB free agency. Technically, he's available in both Japan and the United States, but so far, there's been nary a public bite, even after he posted a 2.39 ERA in 49 innings as the Lions' closer, netting 28 saves in the process.

Does anyone want Abreu? Is he making himself available in both nations? He became a free agent on Dec. 2 at the age of 29, and his market has been more silent than the Toronto Blue Jays attempting to compete for upper-echelon talent. A casual reminder that this man pitched in 45 games, tossing 59 innings, for the 2023 Yankees.

pic.twitter.com/CKdzzhERDx
— Albert abreu (@a_abreu36) October 3, 2024

Former forgotten Yankees in free agency: Where is Albert Abreu?

Abreu languishing on the market isn't terribly shocking. What is shocking? He teamed up with Franchy Cordero on Seibu in 2024, and the ex-Yankees slugger known for his light-tower power (and his whiffing) hit just seven home runs in 99 games in Japan. What gives?! He always felt like a Tuffy Rhodes candidate, someone who could immediately ignite the record books if he hopped abroad and laser-focused on mashing. Instead, he lost his pop. Another reminder that the 2023 Yankees season was -- say it with me now! -- great.

Cordero made less of an impression in pinstripes than Abreu. He also made less of an impression abroad. Neither, somehow, has impacted this winter's free agent puddle with even the slightest ripple. It just goes to show you that the 2023 Yankees really should've non-tendered Abreu, their pet project, sooner. Clearly, they were at no risk of losing him to the rest of MLB.

Adam Weinrib

Adam Weinrib is a Content Director on the FanSided network, and has been the co-editor at Yanks Go Yard for 6 years. He also co-hosts The Baseball Insiders Podcast thrice weekly, alongside FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray, as well as the Yanks Go Yard Podcast. Previously, he was a Senior Editor at 12up.com, and has been covering MLB and NFL for 10 years. He was also a headline and features contributor at ClickHole and Onion Sports, as well as the Associate Producer of the ESPN 30 for 30 film "Believeland". An avowed fan of the New York sports teams -- specifically the Yankees -- as well as the North Carolina Tar Heels, you can find Adam complaining mid-game on Twitter, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn if the game goes really poorly.