Astros' Jose Abreu sent to Triple A from training site

(Photo credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)

First baseman Jose Abreu took a step toward returning to the Houston Astros, when he was assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday.

After Abreu's disastrous start to the season, the Astros optioned the former American League MVP to the minor leagues on May 1, sending him to the spring training site in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Abreu, 37, is a career .284 hitter in 1,433 career g