Astros decide to reward Altuve
A person familiar with the negotiations says AL MVP Jose Altuve and the World Series champion Houston Astros have agreed to a contract that guarantees him an additional $151 million over five seasons from 2020-’24.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the agreement had not been announced.
Altuve has been one of the biggest bargains in baseball. The 27-year-old second baseman is earning $6 million this year under the first option exercised by Houston in a deal he agreed to in 2013 that originally guaranteed $12.5 million from 2014-’17. The Astros have a 2019 option at $6.5 million. He would have been eligible for free agency after that season.
The sides are still working on structuring what portion of the additional money will be categorized as a signing bonus to be paid in installments and what portion will be listed as salary. The average annual value of the new money is $30.2 million, among baseball’s highest.
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
Reds extend Suarez: Third baseman Eugenio Suarez agreed to a $66 million, sevenyear contract that makes him part of the foundation for the Cincinnati Reds’ long-term rebuilding.
The deal announced Friday supersedes the $3.75 million, one-year contract the 26year-old was awarded when he lost his salary arbitration case last month. There’s a team option for 2025 at $15 million — with a $2 million buyout — that would make the deal worth $79 million over eight years.
The Reds started an overhaul in 2015, trading most of their top players for prospects. They have lost more than 90 games and finished last in the NL Central each of the last three seasons.
Phillies lose Eickhoff: Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Jerad Eickhoff is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a strained lat muscle.
Eickhoff was 4-8 with a 4.71 ERA last season and spent time on the disabled list with back and hand injuries. He was slated to be part of Philadelphia’s rotation.
Manager Gabe Kapler said Friday that Eickhoff got hurt during his previous outing against Pittsburgh on March 9. The Phillies signed 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta earlier in the week, and general manager Matt Klentak said he plans to fill Eickhoff’s void from within.
Zach Eflin, Ben Lively, Mark Leiter Jr. and Tom Eshelman are candidates to replace Eickhoff in the starting rotation.
Blue Jays pitcher suspended: Toronto pitcher Thomas Pannone has been suspended for 80 games under Major League Baseball’s drug program following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance.
The 23-year-old lefty tested positive for Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (DHCMT), the commissioner’s office said Friday. DHCMT also is known as Turinabol, a drug used by East German athletes in the 1960s.