José Altuve’s contract extension with the Houston Astros
Jose Altuve’s contract extension with the Houston Astros ensures he will remain with the organization for at least five more years.
On February 6th, the extension of José Altuve’s contract with the Houston Astros was announced, reaching $125 million over five years.
The extension will keep the Venezuelan with the organization until he’s 38 years old.
Altuve, who recently turned 33, became the first second baseman in history to earn $300 million in contract earnings.
Many analysts believe he will be a Hall of Famer when his career ends.
Despite only playing in 90 games last season due to an injury suffered in the World Baseball Classic with Venezuela, the infielder proved he is in top form, posting a slash line of .311/.393/.522, with an OPS of .915.
He also hit 17 home runs, 21 doubles, and drove in 51 runs in the regular season. This obviously motivated the Astros to trust Altuve and offer him a contract averaging $25 million per year for five more seasons.
It’s worth noting that Altuve has not changed teams since debuting in Major League Baseball.
Another reason for José Altuve’s contract extension with the Houston Astros is his outstanding performance in the postseason.
He has 27 home runs and 55 RBIs in his playoff career, making him a legend in MLB postseason play. “It’s huge,” said Astros owner Jim Crane to MLB.com after confirming Altuve’s contract extension.
“Altuve was here when I got here in 2011. We’re the only ones who have been here for so long. Not only has he performed well, but having him retire here in Houston is crucial for the franchise. I think it’s very important for him and, more importantly, for the fans,” Crane stated.
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José Altuve’s contract extension with the Houston Astros: The numbers
The Astros initially signed the infielder to a four-year, $12.5 million extension in 2013.
They then extended that deal for another five years in March 2018 for $151 million. Now, with this new signing,
José Altuve will become the first second baseman in MLB history to earn over $300 million during his career.
José Altuve’s contract extension with the Astros will allow him to reach some milestones in the majors. 3,000 hits and the record for most postseason home runs are possible, as well as records within the Astros franchise.
For example, if the Venezuelan completes the entire extension he just signed, he will finish with 19 seasons wearing the Houston uniform, second only to Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, who played 20 seasons with Houston.
“He’s just a great human being, a great competitor, and he’s excellent in the community,” Crane continued.
“He’s simply the complete package, and we’re happy to be able to secure him, and hopefully, he’ll finish his career in Houston.”
That’s why the owner saw it as crucial to extend his star player.
He didn’t just secure a good player, but a role model for the next generation of baseball players in the franchise.
Altuve has a lifetime batting average of .307, with 209 home runs, 293 stolen bases, 747 RBIs, 2047 hits, and 1062 runs scored.
With these numbers, José Altuve’s contract extension with the Houston Astros confirms that he is the best second baseman with a bat in the last 13 years.
