At the conclusion of the 2019 season, José Abreu quickly signed the White Sox’s $17.8 million qualifying offer before reupping with the South Siders later that offseason on a three-year, $50 million contract. Now, 64 home runs and one AL MVP Award later, Abreu could be headed to the open market, at the conclusion of the World Series.

While there’s still a chance Abreu could remain in Chicago, the 35-year-old first baseman said he’s still interested in playing, and is going to take his time before making his free agency decision.

Here’s what to know about Abreu:

FAST FACTS
Birthdate: Jan. 29, 1987 (Age 36 in 2023)
Primary position: 1B
Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 235 lbs.
Bats/throws: Right/right
Place of birth: Cienfuegos, Cuba
Signed: Oct. 29, 2013 by White Sox
MLB debut: March 31, 2014
Qualifying offer: Not eligible to receive one

THE NUMBERS
2022: .304/.378/.446 (133 OPS+), 15 HR, 4.2 WAR* in 157 games
Career: .292/.354./506 (134 OPS+), 243 HR, 31.9 WAR in 1,270 games
*Per Baseball-Reference

STAT TO KNOW
Abreu’s aforementioned three-year deal with the White Sox proved to be an incredible value for Chicago, as Abreu had an OPS+ of 135 over the contract’s three years while only missing 15 games. Abreu finished last season in the 96th percentile in expected wOBA, the 97th percentile in hard-hit rate and the 98th percentile in expected batting average.

QUESTION MARK
While Abreu emphatically confirmed that’d be back for the 2023 season, he’ll be 36 on Opening Day in 2023 -- his 20th professional baseball season. (A late arriver to MLB, Abreu played 10 years in Cuba before defecting to the United States in August 2013.) He also saw his power dip in 2022, as he hit a career-low 15 homers (half his 2021 total) despite playing in 157 games.

He’s got an impressive resume
Abreu feasted during the truncated 2020 season, mashing 76 hits with a league-leading 60 RBIs in 60 games to earn his first MVP nod. But that doesn’t mean that Abreu’s productivity hasn't carried over to full seasons either. He’s reached a triple-digit RBI total six times, has earned MVP votes in six seasons, is a three-time All Star and three-time Silver Slugger winner and earned AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2014 after he slugged 36 home runs. He’s one of only 29 players to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in their career. In 2019, he led the American League with 123 RBIs.

He’s among the best at his position
From the time he entered the league in 2014, Abreu ranks first among first baseman in RBIs (863), is second in home runs (243) and fourth in average (.292). Abreu still grades highly as a defender as well, ranking in the 63rd percentile in Outs Above Average in 2022. Abreu still has no trouble playing the field either, as 128 of his 157 appearances last season came at first base.

He was (and still is) one of the best players to come out of Cuba
Abreu had no shortage of suitors when he defected from Cuba in 2013 -- and for good reason. One of the best players in the history of Cuba, Abreu won the Cuban National League Series MVP in the 2010-11 season when he hit .453/.597/.986 with a record-setting 33 home runs and 93 RBIs in only 66 games. Abreu defected to the Dominican Republic and received serious free agent offers from the White Sox, Red Sox, Astros, Rangers, Marlins and Giants, but signed with the White Sox after they offered him the largest contract for an international free agent (six years, $68 million) at the time.

He’s the perfect clubhouse presence
While Abreu isn’t the most vocal clubhouse leader, his workmanlike attitude has earned him praise from up and down Chicago’s organizational tree. “He’s been exemplary in terms of what you want a White Sox player to be for nine years now in a White Sox uniform,” general manager Rick Hahn told MLB.com’s Scott Merkin. “...I don’t think you are ever going to hear anyone with this organization say a bad word about José. Nothing but admiration and respect for the professionalism and the way he’s carried himself on the field and off the field.”