Are you a Houston Astros fan? If so, you might want to keep an eye on Astros general manager Dana Brown’s latest move. According to recent news, Brown is hoping to finalize contract extensions with All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker and All-Star left-hander Framber Valdez by tomorrow. The good news is that Brown has three years of team control remaining with both of these players. However, he would prefer not to have contract discussions during the season. That said, if Brown can’t get the extensions done this week, he won’t lose any sleep over it. Keep reading to know more!
It’s not clear if Thursday is the deadline for Tucker and Valdez to sign or if negotiations will be postponed for another date. Brown is keeping his options open for now, but he did mention that he felt optimistic about extensions for both players a week ago. Earlier this year, Brown gave starting pitcher Cristian Javier a five-year, $64 million extension. Valdez, a workhorse and first-time All-Star in 2020, agreed to a $6.8 million deal to avoid arbitration. Tucker, also a first-time All-Star last year, lost his arbitration case against the Astros and will be paid $5 million.
In terms of players who are already signed, Brown spoke about the possibility of extending Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve. Brown seems to share the opinion that keeping these two players around is a priority. Both players are under contract through 2024, so Brown intends to address their contracts closer to that time. In the meantime, securing Valdez and Tucker before the season starts would provide more clarity on the team’s roster.
As for other news, Yordan Alvarez is expected to start swinging a bat for the first time this spring on Friday or Saturday. Brown said that veteran left fielder Michael Brantley’s readiness to play on Opening Day is in doubt, while right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. is doing better but there’s still no timetable for him to pick up a baseball.
All in all, it’s an exciting time to be an Astros fan. Keep an eye on Valdez and Tucker’s contracts, as their futures will impact the team’s trajectory for years to come.
Source: www.mlb.com