Astros, Álvarez finalize $115M, six-year contract

Outfielder Yordan Álvarez and the Houston Astros finalized a $115 million, six-year contract covering 2023-28.

The 24-year-old has a oneyear 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’s series opener against Seattle with a .295 average, 16 homers and 34 RBIs, all team highs. D-BACKS SIGN KEUCHEL TO MINORS DEAL >> Veteran lefthander 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 for this season.

The Diamondbacks only will be on the hook for a prorated portion of the major league minimum, and only if Keuchel joins the major league roster.

Keuchel is 101-87 over his 11year major league career with a 3.86 ERA for the Astros (201218), Atlanta Braves (2019) and White Sox (2020-22). He was the American League Cy Young Award winner in 2015 when he was 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA.