The White Sox are engaging in talks with a few teams regarding a potential trade involving first baseman Jose Abreu, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman. Per Heyman, the Red Sox are among the clubs in contact with Chicago. The clubs have not confirmed the discussions.
Boston was known to be one of the final four clubs, in addition to Milwaukee and Houston, in the sweepstakes to sign Abreu when he ultimately signed with the White Sox as an amateur free agent in October 2013.
• Hot Stove Tracker
Abreu, who earned the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2014, has batted .301/.359/.524 with 124 home runs and 410 RBIs in 614 games over four seasons with the White Sox. The 30-year-old has been incredibly consistent during his Major League tenure, racking up more than 175 hits and 25 homers in each season.
Abreu, a native of Cienfuegos, Cuba, carries two more years of club control and is expected to make between $14 million and $20 million per season throughout the remainder of his current deal.
The link between Abreu and the Red Sox makes even more sense when considering the interest Boston has had in bringing on a middle-of-the-order bat since it was first reported during the General Managers Meetings two weeks ago.
The Red Sox have had discussions with the representatives of free agents Carlos Santana and Logan Morrison, but acquiring Abreu would present an upgrade over those two players while also filling Boston's power void. The Red Sox finished last in the AL with 168 home runs in 2017.