Oh boy, the Houston Astros just made a big move! They’ve locked down their star, Jose Altuve, with a shiny new contract extension. We’re talking a five-year deal stretching from 2025 to 2029. And the price tag? A cool $125 million. This means Altuve, who’s 33 now, will be sporting Astros colors till he’s 39. Originally, his free agent status was looming after 2024, but nah, he’s sticking around.
Altuve’s not your typical player. He’s one of those rare gems who decided not to jump ship when free agency was knocking. Yep, Scott Boras clients usually hit the market, but Altuve? He’s different. This contract’s gonna dish out $30 million a year from 2025 to 2027, then drops to $25 million in 2028, and finally, a $10 million in 2029. It’s kinda front-loaded, making the later years a bit lighter on the wallet as Altuve ages.
Jim Crane, the Astros’ owner, had something sweet to say. He’s been with the Astros since 2011, just like Altuve. They’re the old guards, so to speak. Crane mentioned, “Altuve was here when I got here in 2011. We’re the only two guys that have been here that long.” He’s pumped about Altuve possibly retiring as an Astro. It’s a big deal for everyone – the team, Altuve, and especially the fans.
Now, let’s not forget that nasty pitch in the World Baseball Classic that left Altuve with a broken thumb. That was a bummer, forcing him to start the season on the injured list. But once he got back, oh man, he was on fire. With a batting line of .311/.393/.522 and 17 homers in just 90 games, he was unstoppable. He even hit some milestones in 2023 – 2,000 hits, 400 doubles, and 200 homers. This extension means he’s chasing that 3,000 hit mark wearing an Astros jersey.
Altuve’s pretty much a legend in Houston. He tops the charts in batting average, doubles, runs, and stolen bases for the Astros. Plus, he’s got some serious postseason creds, being second in postseason homers and third in hits. Remember those World Series wins in 2017 and 2022? Yeah, Altuve was key.
With Altuve’s future secured, the Astros might now look at Alex Bregman, who’s up for free agency after 2024. And let’s not forget about Kyle Tucker and Framber Valdez. They’re also on the “let’s get them signed” list, being just a couple of years away from free agency.
The Astros had a solid run in 2023, clinching the AL West with a 90-72 record. They made it to the ALCS for the seventh year in a row but got edged out by the Texas Rangers, who went on to win the World Series, in a nail-biting seven games. What a season, huh?
