No losers in Altuve deal
By locking in Jose Altuve, he gets fortune he deserves, Astros finagle a bargain and fans can enjoy a class act
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The day the Astros introduced Jeff Luhnow as the team’s new general manager just happened to be the same day news broke of Albert Pujols’ 10-year, $254 million contract with the Angels. • Jim Crane, who at the time had owned the team for only a few months, told me that his Astros weren’t ever going to join the lengthy, mega-million-dollar contract club. • “Spending that kind of money, if you want to do it, that’s your business,” Crane said. “But I doubt you’ll ever see us sign a 10-year deal while I’m around.”
Crane not only scoffed at the length of the deal, the thought of $25 million a year for a single player made him cringe.
Little wonder he had difficulty imagining such a number. His entire payroll for active players the next season was under $24 million. (Insert LOL here.)
Little wonder fans had trouble giving away Astros tickets that year … and the next.
When Crane and I had that conversation, Jose Altuve’s story was an inspiring, yet ofttold tale of an underdog making it to the big leagues; barely movie-of-the-week stuff.
Sure, many of us thought Altuve would be a fine ballplayer, but making it to MLB was likely to be his most notable accomplishment. No one predicted greatness.
Oh, did we all sell him short.
A Houston sports legend
Altuve ranks among the best athletes to represent the city of Houston, and he is well on his way to becoming the greatest Astros player ever.
I mean, the former Lexington Legend has indeed become a legend.
Without question, Altuve, 27, has been the best bargain in the history of Houston sports. Thank goodness that’s about to change.
Even still, with a new contract that according to multiple reports is worth more than $150 million for five years (starting in 2020), Altuve will remain a bargain for the Astros.
How can a player who stands to make $30 million a year be a “bargain” you ask?
By being as good as Altuve is — on and off the field — that’s how.
If Altuve were a free agent, he would command much more than the $163 million he will receive over the next seven years.
Thanks to baseball’s system, and sharp maneuvering, the Astros have managed to get away with not paying Altuve what he is worth for years.
There are only a handful of players in his class, yet about 250 major leaguers made more money than he did last season.
The Astros have been living in a mansion but paying rent on a one-bedroom efficiency.
Altuve has been good for a long time, yet amazingly his run of greatness hasn’t received its proper reverence.
Feel free to partly blame media for this. (Yes, sometimes, it is our fault.) I assure you, we don’t take him for granted, but we haven’t told his story often enough or well enough.
We build ’em up and tear ’em down. We haven’t built Altuve up enough.
Dynasty cornerstone
You know how some of you suffer from J.J. Watt fatigue and are also tired of hearing about The Beard? For those so inclined, Altuve Exhaustion ought to be a searchable condition on WebMD.
He is smart, funny, dedicated, and delivers near-perfection on the baseball field.
I remember sitting and talking with him some five years ago in the clubhouse, thinking how I wish I had put as much effort into learning English as he had put into learning English. I don’t even bother imagining working as hard to be as good at something as Altuve has done with baseball. He’s phenomenal. We spend too much time talking about athletes’ pay, but Altuve is the star on a team of stars. As Hank Aaron said, he is worth paying to go see.
Altuve helped make Astros baseball fun again, and if this team becomes a dynasty over the next few years as many predict, he will be the reigning king of Houston sports. The No. 34s will be looking up at No. 27.
That makes Altuve worth what the Astros are going to pay him, and then some.
Crane doesn’t throw money around recklessly, but he had little choice here.
It is a smart investment. A necessary one. Well done, Astros. Next up … Carlos Correa.