The Houston Astros made a big splash in the free agent market on Monday, signing veteran slugger Jose Abreu to a three-year deal worth $60 million.
The Astros moved swiftly to replace Yuli Gurriel and brought in a veteran presence with a powerful bat to help bolster their lineup.
In addition to Abreu, the Astros lineup already includes names such as Jose Altuve, Jeremy Pena, Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, and Kyle Tucker.
But there was one man in particular that played an instrumental role in bringing the 35-year-old to Houston.
According to Astros Owner Jim Crane, former team legend Jeff Bagwell, who is now an advisor in the front office, flew down to Miami last week with Assistant General Manager Bill Firkus and met with Abreu at his home to close the deal.
Crane said assistant GM Bill Firkus and advisor Jeff Bagwell flew to Miami last week to meet with Abreu at his home to close the deal.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) November 29, 2022
Bagwell Played Key Role In Recruiting Abreu
Bagwell was a fan favorite during his playing days, all of which were with the Astros.
He was a key piece of their 2005 World Series team.
Bagwell retired after the ’05 season.
Fast forward 17 years and Bagwell is still playing a key role with the Astros.
The Hall-of-Famer was clearly an integral part of recruiting Abreu to the Astros.
Like Abreu, Bagwell was a first baseman during his career.
The 54-year-old played a total of 15 seasons and hit for a .297 average, while posting a 79.9 WAR and hitting 449 home runs.
Bagwell was around for much of the Astros success in the 2000s.
Now, Bagwell can be credited for helping Houston secure the bag on one of the top free agents on the market.
NEXT: Jose Abreu Brings More Than Just Skill To Houston