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Stefan Tonev
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Free agent Jose Abreu joins Astros on three-year contract
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The Cuban hit .304 with an .824 OPS, drawing a personal-best 62 walks and posting a .378 on-base percentage last year

Houston Astros, who won their second World Series championship in six seasons last month, signed free-agent first baseman Jose Abreau to a three-year deal, the team said on Monday night.

The 35-year-old Cuban played his first nine Major League seasons with the Chicago White Sox and consistently has been one of the top middle-of-the-order run producers in the game.

“I was tired of the cold and always losing,” said Abreu, who replaces his longtime rival in the Cuban National Series Yuli Gurriel, after signing the deal.

Abreu and Gurriel, along with Yoenis Cespedes, were considered as the best players of their generation from Cuba, both high-contact hitters — though Abreu’s power was the separator.

Last year, Abreu hit .304 with an .824 OPS, drawing a personal-best 62 walks and posting a .378 on-base percentage that ranks second in his illustrious career.

Abreu experienced a drop in power last year, with 15 home runs and 75 RBIs in 157 games, but he should benefit from the Crawford Boxes in left field at Minute Maid Park. In his final 55 games and 234 plate appearances last season, Abreu had one home run and 20 RBIs.

“I didn’t hit homers,” Abreu said through White Sox interpreter Billy Russo during his last regular-season interview. “That’s one of my goals to work on during the offseason, trying to increase power.”