1B Abreu looking forward to winning with White Sox

José Abreu has kwn thing but losing since he joined Chicago White Sox. Six years, six losing seasons. Six consistent performances by Cuban slugger, and six empty Octobers. Perhaps more than anyone else, Abreu is rey for or side of Chicago's long-running rebuilding plan.

“We weren't born to lose, but we kw that losing is part of game," he said. “In this process, we were aware of cost that we h to (pay) to get to this point w. I think we learned a lot from all those losses, from all those years. I think all those losses are going to make us better for this year and for future, too."  White Sox are talking playoffs again after winning just 72 games in 2019. Abreu is a big reason why, but it goes way beyond first baseman's AL-leing 123 RBIs last season.

Abreu's sterling reputation around game helped Chicago reel in a couple of high-profile free nts over winter. Left-hander Dallas Keuchel paid tribute to Abreu's leership after he agreed to a $55.5 million, three-year contract in December, and catcher Yasmani Grandal said Abreu was a factor in his decision to sign with team. “It was kind of exciting for me. Obviously, being from Cuba, you absolutely heard about him for a long time," Grandal said, “and just getting to play with a guy like that, re's a lot of things that I can learn."

Abreu also is a key figure when it comes to development of potential Lati stars Yoán Monca, Eloy Jiménez and Luis Robert. Monca and Robert are also from Cuba. Monca set career highs with 25 homers, 79 RBIs and a .315 batting aver last season. Jiménez hit 31 homers in his first year in majors, and Robert is expected to make his major league debut this season after slugging his way through Chicago's farm system.

Abreu, who turns 33 on Wednesday, has been a big influence on Monca and Jiménez, and likely will be spending a lot of time with Robert this year. “His (example), we should follow every single day," Jiménez said Friday on first day of team's annual fan convention. “He works hard, and that's what you want to see when you're around people, and he likes to compete."

In dition to everything he gives Chicago off field, Abreu has been a model of consistency since he was AL Rookie of Year in 2014. He has driven in 100 or more runs in five of his six seasons with White Sox. After belting 33 homers last year, Abreu could have looked for a blockbuster deal in free ncy. But he said repeatedly he wanted to return to White Sox, and he agreed to a $50 million, three-year contract in vember.

“I'm very happy. I think that's just a reward for all work and all commitment that I h with this team," Abreu said through a translator. “It's part of loyalty from myself to team and from team to me. “se three years are going to be good and we're going to bring joy and happiness to this town."  White Sox are hoping that joy includes a playoff appearance this season. When it comes to all postseason talk, Abreu is taking a pragmatic approach. “I prefer to go step by step," he said. “I don't want to say that we're going to be in playoffs or we're going to win World Series because we don't kw yet. We might have talent, but we don't kw. That's why I'm saying I prefer just to go day by day, step by step."