The 29-year-old Abreu was once an intriguing relief prospect for the Yankees, who posted a 4.58 ERA and 22.4 percent strikeout rate in 135 2/3 career innings before being non-tendered after the 2023 season. He spent last year with the Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. In 49 innings he pitched to a 2.39 ERA but that came with just a 16.3 percent strikeout rate.

Abreu will take his talents overseas in an effort to rebuild his long-term value. The 28-year-old righty made a career-high 45 appearances this past season for the Yankees, finishing with a 4.73 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 61/35 K/BB ratio across 59 innings of work.

It shouldn’t be coming to this already for Abreu, unless he simply prefers the idea of pitching in Japan. But this is a 28-year-old with a high-90s fastball and a decent enough 4.15 ERA in 97 2/3 innings the last two seasons... some major league team should be willing to offer him guaranteed money. He still has more upside than what we’ve seen thus far.

Abreu showed some promise when healthy in 2022, but he had a 4.73 ERA before finishing up on the IL with a hamstring strain last season. Throw in that he’s out of options, and it’s easy to see why the Yankees made this call. Still, his arm might net him a major league deal elsewhere.