Watch the #Astros press conference live from @BPPalmBeaches! https://t.co/ox5V9PNvOU
— Houston Astros (@astros) March 19, 2018
AL MVP Jose Altuve and the World Series champion Houston Astros have finalized a $163.5 million, seven-year contract that guarantees an additional $151 million over five seasons.
The 27-year-old second baseman had been among baseball’s best bargains. He agreed in 2013 to a deal that originally guaranteed $12.5 million from 2014-17 and included club options for 2018 at $6 million and 2019 at $6.5 million.
His new deal, announced Monday, March 19th, keeps those salaries and adds a $21 million signing bonus, of which $1 million is payable upon the deal’s approval by the commissioner’s office and $10 million each on July 1 in 2018 and 2019. He gets annual salaries of $26.2 million from 2020-24.
“This is a very important day for me,” said Altuve, “and the most important thing for me is (my teammates) being here. Everything is done, and now I can just play baseball.”
Altuve would have been eligible for free agency after the 2019 season.
The 5-foot-6 Altuve hit .346 last season to win his second straight AL batting title and third in four seasons. He had 24 homers, 82 RBIs and 32 stolen bases.
Franchise player. Franchise deal.
"This is a very important day for me," said Altuve, "and the most important thing for me is [my teammates] being here. Everything is done, and now I can just play baseball." https://t.co/KAG52OacnY pic.twitter.com/Nry2u3n7Tq
— Houston Astros (@astros) March 19, 2018
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