Astros OK one-year deals with 7 players
HOUSTON — Prior to Friday’s salary exchange deadline, the Astros agreed to one-year contracts with seven of their 10 arbitration-eligible players, but face hearings with the three with whom they could not come to terms.
Starter Gerrit Cole, shortstop Carlos Correa and reliever Chris Devenski did not strike a deal. The Astros, like a bevy of other clubs, are a “file-and-trial” team, meaning they do not negotiate one-year deals with arbitrationeligible players after Friday’s deadline.
Assistant general manager Brandon Taubman, who oversees the Astros’ arbitration process, said “in the absence of more information,” he believes all three players will go to arbitration hearings. That usually is in February.
Cole, a client of agent Scott Boras, is entering his final season before what promises to be a lucrative foray into free agency. MLB Trade Rumors’ salary model predicted the 28-year-old righthander will make $13.1 million in arbitration — the highest of the Astros’ 10-man contingent in that projection.
The same model projected Correa’s arbitration salary at $5.1 million. This is the first arbitration-eligible year for Correa, 24, and Devenski, 28, whom MLB Trade Rumors projected at a $1.4 million salary.
The seven players who agreed to deals include outfielder Jake Marisnick, starting pitchers Lance McCullers Jr. and Collin McHugh and four relievers — Roberto Osuna, Ryan Pressly, Will Harris and Brad Peacock.
McCullers, 25, who will not pitch in 2019 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, settled at $4.1 million, according to a person familiar with the agreement.
Pressly received $2.9 million, Harris got $4.225 million and Peacock pulled in $3.11 million. Terms of each settlement were confirmed to the Chronicle by people with knowledge of the agreements not authorized to speak publicly.
The salary is a $1.3 million raise for Pressly, 30. who made $1.6 million last season with the Twins. Pressly pitched to a 0.77 ERA in 26 Astros appearances after his July acquisition, striking out 32 in 23⅓ innings.
After an inconsistent season from Harris, a 2016 All-Star reliever, his $5.5 million club option for 2019 was declined by the Astros in November, making him arbitration eligible. He will receive $4.225 million this season after making $2.8 million in 2018 — a season in which he pitched to a 3.49 ERA in 56⅔ innings. Harris, 34, will become a free agent after the 2019 season.
Peacock, 30, received a $670,000 raise from his $2.44 million salary last season. MLB Trade Rumors projected Peacock would make $2.9 million in arbitration this season.