Altuve signs five-year extension to become 'Astro for life'
Brian McTaggart
@brianmctaggartHOUSTON -- Jose Altuve, one of the most accomplished and popular players in Astros history and a cornerstone of a pair of World Series championship teams, will likely end his career in Houston.
The star second baseman agreed to a five-year contract extension with the Astros on Tuesday, his third extension with Houston. The deal will start in 2025 and will take Altuve through his age-39 season. The deal is worth $125 million, including $30 million each season from 2025-27, a source told MLB.com¡¯s Mark Feinsand. The club did not confirm the terms of the deal.
"It¡¯s big," Astros owner Jim Crane told MLB.com from the owners¡¯ meetings in Orlando. "Altuve was here when I got here in 2011. We're the only two guys that have been here that long. Not only has he performed well, but to have him hopefully retire here is a big deal for the franchise, and I think it¡¯s a big deal for him and a big deal for the fans, more importantly."
The Astros signed Altuve to a four-year, $12.5 million extension in 2013, then to a five-year, $151 million deal in March 2018.
Altuve was one of four key Astros players facing free agency in the next two years. That list includes third baseman Alex Bregman, who is scheduled to be a free agent after this season. Right fielder Kyle Tucker and left-hander Framber Valdez, a pair of two-time All-Stars, are set to become free agents after the 2025 season.
¡°Every one of these guys is a different situation,¡± Crane said. ¡°We¡¯ll certainly visit with Bregman when the time comes and move onto the next deal. ¡ We¡¯ve got [Tucker] for two more years, so we¡¯re just going to let him play and see how he does.¡±
Altuve is scheduled to make $26 million this season, which would have been his last before reaching free agency. If he plays out the life of the extension, Altuve will end up spending 19 seasons in an Astros uniform. That would trail only Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, who played 20 seasons with Houston.
¡°He¡¯s just a great human being and a great competitor and he¡¯s great in the community,¡± Crane said. ¡°He¡¯s just the full package and we¡¯re happy we¡¯re able to get it locked up and he¡¯ll hopefully finish his career in Houston.¡±
Altuve was limited to 90 games in 2023 because of pair of stints on the injured list, his fewest in a full season since his rookie year, but still hit .311 with 17 homers, 14 steals and 51 RBIs. He missed the first 43 games of the regular season after having surgery to repair a fractured thumb suffered when he was struck by a pitch in the World Baseball Classic, then missed 17 games in July with a left oblique strain.
He recorded his 2,000th career hit on Aug. 19 against the Mariners at Minute Maid Park and hit for his first career cycle Aug. 28 against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Altuve made his Major League debut in 2011, and 13 years later, he is among the franchise¡¯s all-time leaders in multiple categories. He ranks first in career batting average (.307); third in hits (2,047), doubles (400), runs (1,062) and stolen bases (293); and fifth in home runs (209). With 2,047 hits on his resum¨¦, Altuve could reach the coveted 3,000-hit club if he remains a regular throughout the five years of the extension.
He has been the central figure in the most successful era in Astros history, a run that includes eight postseason appearances; a Major League record seven consecutive appearances in the American League Championship Series; four American League pennants; and two World Series titles. Altuve has been at his best on the postseason stage, his 27 homers and 89 runs scored both ranking second in AL/NL history. His 117 postseason hits are tied for third.
Altuve¡¯s career accolades also include eight All-Star selections, six Silver Slugger Awards, three batting titles, a Gold Glove and the 2017 AL MVP Award.
-- Brian Murphy contributed to this story.