Houston's beloved second baseman Jose Altuve isn't going anywhere. The Astros and Altuve have stitched up a five-year deal that will probably ensure the rest of his career is spent wearing Houston's hues. According to the Houston Chronicle, the team announced this commitment Tuesday evening, cementing Altuve's status as a franchise icon until his age-39 season.
The contract is a cool $125 million over five years, and it includes a wholesome $15 million signing bonus. Altuve, who once could have been a free agent following the current season, will rake in $30 million annually for the first three seasons starting in 2025, before the amount drops to $10 million in the concluding duo of years, the The Athletic confirmed.
Altuve has spent his entire 13-season career with the Astros, journeying from being part of a rebuilding effort to crucial cornerstone of a two-time World Series championship team. An eight-time All-Star, his 2017 American League MVP award, three AL batting titles, and a career .307 batting average are testament to his sustained excellence.
This extension makes Altuve the very first second baseman, and it's not just any second baseman, but the second baseman in MLB history guaranteed to earn a vault-busting $300 million over his career. The player who was once undervalued and overlooked now stands as a paragon of the "Astros for life" ethos General Manager Dana Brown espouses, as per the Houston Chronicle.
Despite an injury-riddled 2023 that saw Altuve missing 43 games, his performance remained stellar when in play. And his new contract doesn't signify an end to the Astros' strategic moves. Alex Bregman, another key Astro and Boras client like Altuve, is on the cusp of free agency too. There could still be deals brewing in the Astros' camp.
Altuve's tale of determination from being sent away from a tryout for his small stature to sealing a groundbreaking deal is a true baseball narrative. The Astros have locked in their star second baseman, a player who has become as emblematic of Houston as Space City's skyline and the spirit of continued human endeavor. And with the team eyeing their eighth straight ALCS appearance, with Altuve at the helm, Houston's future looks as bright as the beaming smile of their franchise second baseman.
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