Tuesday’s signing of a five-year agreement by Jose Altuve virtually ensures that he will play out his career with the Houston Astros.
According to sources, the $125 million contract will keep him under contract through his age-39 season.
Owner Jim Crane stated, “He’s a franchise-type player; one of the best in Houston history,” during the Orlando, Florida owners meetings. “And we hope someday he’s a Hall of Famer.”
Using social media, the Astros revealed the deal and referred to their veteran second baseman as a “Astro For Life.” Altuve, 33, was about to enter his last season at a salary of $26 million before becoming a free agent. He signs a new contract in 2025, which runs through 2029.
In the seven years that have included two World Series championships, four American League pennants, and seven straight (and counting) trips to the AL Championship Series, Altuve has made a name for himself as a pivotal character in the most prosperous yet divisive span of franchise history.
At just 5-foot-6, Altuve was one of the smallest players in baseball history when he was signed out of Venezuela in 2007. Nevertheless, he overcame the odds and became a superstar.
Altuve has dropped in 13 years playing in the major leagues.2,047 hits, 293 stolen bases, and 209 home runs were recorded while his slash line was 307/.364/.471. Six Silver Sluggers, three batting caps, a Gold Glove, an MVP from 2017, and eight All-Star invites are on his resume.
Since Altuve made his debut on July 20, 2011, the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman (2,017) is the only other player with more than 2,000 hits. Altuve has the highest lifetime batting average of any active player with at least 2,000 at-bats.
However, Altuve has produced some of his best work during the postseason. Most recently, in Game 5 of the ALCS against the Texas Rangers, who are in the same division, Altuve scored an amazing home run in the ninth inning to end a heated game. Similar to this, he sent the Astros to the World Series in the 2019 ALCS by walking off the New York Yankees with a home run in the ninth inning off All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman.
Altuve ranks second all-time in playoff scoring with 89 runs scored and 27 home runs in 103 games. With 117 hits, he is in third place. Among the four players in MLB playoffs history to achieve more than 50 RBIs and 100 hits is him, along with Bernie Williams, Manny Ramirez, and Derek Jeter.
Alex Bregman of the Astros, Altuve’s longtime infield partner, was entering his penultimate season before becoming a free agent in 2024. All along, though, the belief was that the Astros would at least work things out with Altuve, who has proven himself worthy of the Hall of Fame despite the latest problem engulfing his team related to sign-stealing.
Following his May return from a broken left thumb suffered during the World Baseball Classic, he played in 90 games and finished with a.311 average, 15 home runs, 51 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases.
He will receive a $15 million signing bonus from his new contract, as well as $30 million in salary in 2025, 2026, and 2027. He will earn $10 million in 2030 in addition to 2029.
He will become the first second baseman in MLB history to collect $300 million in career earnings by the end of it.
