Astros finalize new deal with Álvarez
Outfielder Yordan Álvarez and the Houston Astros finalized a $115 million, six-year contract covering 2023-28.
The 24-year-old has a one-year deal for 2022 calling for $764,600.
His new deal announced Monday calls for a $5 million signing bonus and salaries of $7 million next year, $10 million in 2024 and $15 million in 2025, covering his three years of arbitration eligibility. Álvarez receives $26 million annually from 2026-28, when he would have been eligible for free agency.
His salary can escalate from 2024-27 based on finish in MVP voting $1.5 million for first, $750,000 for second and $750,000 for third.
Álvarez, who was signed by the Dodgers in June 2016 and traded to the Astros for pitcher Josh Fields two months later, hit .277 last year and set career highs with 33 homers and 104 RBIs. He entered Monday with a .295 average, 16 homers and 34 RBIs, all team highs. D-BACKS SIGN KEUCHEL TO MINORS DEAL >> Veteran left-hander Dallas Keuchel agreed to a minor-league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, a week after he was released by the Chicago White Sox.
Keuchel, 34, struggled to a 2-5 record and a 7.88 ERA in eight starts with the White Sox this season. The White Sox still owe Keuchel the final four months of his $18 million salary.
Keuchel is 101-87 over his 11-year major league career. He was the AL Cy Young Award winner in 2015 when he was 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA for the Astros.
REDS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 0, 7 INNINGS >> Hunter Greene allowed a bunt single to begin the game and then faced the minimum through seven innings, retiring his final 20 batters as Cincinnati defeated visiting Arizona in a rainshortened game Monday night.
Brandon Drury hit his 10th homer of the season. Kyle Farmer and Tyler Stephenson each had a two-run double.
A line of storms moved in and halted play with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. After a total of 46 minutes in delays, the game was called.
Greene (3-7) yielded a bunt single by Daulton Varsho to begin the game. Varsho was caught stealing to complete a double play after Josh Varsho struck out. Greene never permitted another baserunner.
The hard-throwing rookie finished with eight strikeouts and no walks in seven innings.