The Astros didn’t reveal the financial terms of the agreement, but reports indicate that Altuve will earn $125 million with the new extension. The 33-year-old player will receive $26 million in 2024, the last year of his old contract.

“He’s a franchise-type player; one of the best in Houston history,” said owner Jim Crane of Altuve. “And we hope someday he’s a Hall of Famer.”

Jose Altuve signed a contract with the Houston Astros as a 16-year-old after attending the team’s tryout camp in Maracay, Venezuela, in 2007. Altuve moved to the United States in 2008 and played three years in the minors before making his MLB debut in 2011.

Since then, Altuve established himself as one of the best players in the history of the franchise. He made eight All-Star appearances, won an AL MVP in 2017, and has six Silver Slugger awards to his name. Altuve also helped the Astros win two World Series.

Altuve was limited to 90 games in 2023 after dealing with a broken thumb. He finished the campaign with a 311 batting average, 15 homers, 51 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases.

The post Astros and All-Star 2B Jose Altuve Agree to 5-Year, $125 Million Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

McCullers originally injured his right forearm during the 2021 playoffs and was diagnosed with a flexor tendon strain. He missed the start of the 2022 campaign but recovered in time to contribute to the Astros’ World Series-winning run. But it turned out that the issue didn’t go away as McCullers reaggravated the injury during this year’s spring training.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said in a team-released statement that McCullers “worked off his tail” to return but couldn’t shake off the injury completely. In the end, the decision was made to have surgery that would take care of the issue and have the 29-year-old player ready for 2024.

“This guy is a warrior and did everything in his power to get back,” said Brown. “But each time he built himself up to an increased pitch total off the mound, the pain would come back. It’s unfortunate, but we look forward to him being back on the mound next season.”

Lance McCullers Jr. spent all of his seven years in the majors with the Houston Astros. He has a 49–32 record as a starter with a 3.48 ERA and 800 strikeouts. McCullers was an All-Star in 2017, the same year the Astros won the first World Series in franchise history.

The post Astros’ RHP Lance McCullers Jr. Undergoes Season-Ending Forearm Surgery appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Aside from lifting the coveted World Series trophy, Montero also delivered a strong individual performance during his first season with the Astros, posting a 2.37 ERA in 68⅓ innings and allowing just three home runs while striking out 73.

Montero joined the Astros in a July 2021 trade from the Seattle Mariners. With a fastball that averaged 96.5 mph, Montero was a top target for several major league teams, particularly once he became available in free agency.

While Moreno proved himself to be a talented pitcher prior to his arrival in Houston, his new contract is more of a bet on him due to his performance last season than his career overall, with his latest season proving to be his best.

The contract with Montero bolsters and already-stacked Astros bullpen, which includes closer Ryan Pressly, Ryne Stanek, Bryan Abreu, Hector Neris, and Phil Maton.

The post Rafael Montero Signs Three-Year Deal With Astros appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“We have had great success in each of his three seasons, and James has been an important part of that success,” Astros owner Jim Crane said of Click. “I want to personally thank him and wish him and his family well moving forward.”

Click’s unexpected departure from the Astros comes after a prosperous three-year tenure with the team which culminated in World Series glory in 2022. While Click and Crane were engaged in contract negotiations over the last week, no agreement could be reached.

At the same time, manager Dusty Baker also entered into renegotiations with the team considering that his contract had the same expiry date as Click’s. Unlike the general manager, Baker decided to accept the agreement, keeping him on at the Astros.

Click joined the Astros in early 2020, following the dismissal of general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch as a result of the Major League Baseball’s investigation into the team’s sign-stealing practices.

The post GM James Click Set to Leave Astros After Declining Contract appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Click refuted a claim that he had already agreed to a new one-year deal with the team, stating, “We are having discussions right now. I think anytime that you’re having discussions it means that it’s not complete.”

The World Series-winning general manager also revealed that he already spoke with Astros owner Jim Crane about the potential contract on Monday evening, between the hours of the team’s championship parade and Click’s flight for the annual general managers’ meetings.

Houston is set to host a news conference on Wednesday afternoon when the team is expected to announce a contract extension for manager Dusty Baker. Asked if he will be part of the news conference, Click replied, “I am planning to be here trying to put together the team for next year.”

At 44 years old, Click has been at the Astros since 2020, when he took over from previous general manager Jeff Luhnow following the latter’s dismissal from his post.

The post James Click in Talks With Astros Over New Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Astros’ dominant showing isn’t much of a surprise, considering they have been consistent all season long. After leading the AL with 106 wins during the regular season, Houston swept the Seattle Mariners in ALDS and then dealt with the Yankees easier than expected.

“It’s a long road to get here,” said Astros manager Dusty Baker after Game 4, which his team won 6-5. “There’s a lot that happens in the months to get here from spring training. It means that we persevered, and we stayed together, and we made the necessary trades when we had to try to strengthen certain parts of our team.”

The Phillies, on the other hand, have caught the NL off guard, considering they barely got to the postseason as the third team in NL East. They first stunned the favored Cardinals in NLWC and then eliminated divisional rivals Atlanta Braves in just four games in an NLDS showdown.

The Padres proved to be a tougher challenge, considering every game went down to the wire. However, the Phillies showed resilience and had their best players come through when it mattered the most. This was especially the case with star right fielder Bryce Harper, who hit a home run in the eighth inning of Game 5 against the Padres to give his team a 3-4 comeback win. 

“I didn’t want to get back on that flight back to San Diego. I just didn’t want to get on a 5½-hour flight,” Harper said after the game. “I wanted to hang out at home and enjoy this at home with these fans and this organization and this fan base.”

The Astros and the Phillies will play Game 1 of the 2022 World Series on Friday. This will be the fourth World Series appearance for Houston in the past six seasons and the first for Philadelphia since 2009.

The post Astros and Phillies to Face Off in the 2022 World Series appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Astros fell behind early on partly due to the struggles of their ace Justin Verlander with the Mariners holding a confident 7-3 lead throughout seven innings. Houston cut it to 7-5 in the eighth and then set the stage for their All-Star designated hitter Yordan Alvarez to try and steal this one from Seattle at the bottom of the ninth.

The Mariners sent out their Cy Young Award-winning lefty Robbie Ray to face Alvarez, but it made little difference. Alvarez launched Ray’s second pitch into the seats, scoring a three-run walk-off homer to give Houston an unlikely win.

“I think it’s one of the most special moments that I’ve had in my career, having [my parents] there, and even for just the city of Houston,” Alvarez said after the game. “They know that we’re a team that never gives up. So just being able to get that hit right there was one of the most special moments of my career.”

In the second ALDS matchup, the New York Yankees have beaten the Cleveland Guardians 1-4 to take the lead. In the National League’s part of the bracket, the Philadelphia Phillies won Game 1 against the Atlanta Braves, while the LA Dodgers also have a lead in the series against the San Diego Padres.

The post Yordan Alvarez Hits a 3-Run Homer to Give Astros ALDS Lead Over Mariners appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

General manager James Click revealed on Friday that the team was considering several avenues in order to help Brantley overcome his injury. “ultimately, after consultation with our trainers and doctors, we … came to the conclusion that this [surgery] was the right path for him long-term for his health,” Click admitted.

Astros manager Dusty Baker added that several procedures were attempted before resorting to surgery, all of which ultimately proved ineffective. Nicknamed “Uncle Mike”, Brantley is an essential leadership figure in the team, Baker commented, emphasizing the rift that is left in the team due to his absence.

Brantley impressed during the postseason, batting .319 with nine RBIs during the Astros’ run to the World Series. He is a five-time All-Star and a .298 hitter, racking up 127 homers and 713 RBIs in 1,430 regular season games.

The post Astros’ Michael Brantley Suffers Season-Ending Injury appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

After a scoreless first inning, Christian Vazquez singled to the right at the bottom of the second to give the Red Sox 1-0 lead. Christian Arroyo then grounded into the fielder’s choice on the second to make it 2-0.

This set up a 430 feet homer for Kyle Schwarber, which allowed Arroyo, J.D. Martinez, and Alex Verdugo to score and lift Boston to 6-0.

The Red Sox continued to fill out the scoreboard at the bottom of the third. They increased their lead to 9-0 after Vazquez singled and Arroyo hit another homer.

The Astros cut into the lead with a 413 feet home run by Kyle Tucker at the top of the fourth, but this only prompted Boston to respond with more homers of their own. Martinez had a 395-foot home run at the bottom of the sixth, and Devers added 372 homer at the bottom of the eighth.

“These are the moments that you are never going to forget as a player,” Schwarber said after the game. “This is what we live for. We live to be in the postseason. When you get that first taste, that first experience, you want to keep coming. You want more. It’s an addicting feeling, and especially where it’s just rocking the whole time, and it’s rowdy.”

The post Red Sox Dominate Astros in 12-3 Win to Take ALCS Lead appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The reason for McCullers’ absence is a forearm tightness that caused the right-hander to leave Game 4 of ALDS against the Chicago White Sox after just four innings. It is unclear whether McCullers might return to the mound if Houston makes the World Series.

The news is a tough blow for the Astros, considering that McCullers had a strong regular season in which he went 13-5 in 28 starts while posting 3.16 ERA and having 185 strikeouts. His good performances carried over to the postseason, and he was particularly stellar in Game 1 against Chicago when he pitched scoreless ball into the seventh inning.

Houston can now only hope that they can get something out of Jake Odorizzi, who was added to the ALCS roster instead of McCullers. Odorizzi sat out the ALDS after struggling in the regular season. The All-Star right-hander, who joined the Astros in the offseason on a two-year, $23.5 million contract, had a 6-7 record with 4.21 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 24 games in 2021.

The post Astros to Face Red Sox in ALCS without Ace Lance McCullers Jr. appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Astros didn’t reveal the financial terms of the agreement, but reports indicate that Altuve will earn $125 million with the new extension. The 33-year-old player will receive $26 million in 2024, the last year of his old contract.

“He’s a franchise-type player; one of the best in Houston history,” said owner Jim Crane of Altuve. “And we hope someday he’s a Hall of Famer.”

Jose Altuve signed a contract with the Houston Astros as a 16-year-old after attending the team’s tryout camp in Maracay, Venezuela, in 2007. Altuve moved to the United States in 2008 and played three years in the minors before making his MLB debut in 2011.

Since then, Altuve established himself as one of the best players in the history of the franchise. He made eight All-Star appearances, won an AL MVP in 2017, and has six Silver Slugger awards to his name. Altuve also helped the Astros win two World Series.

Altuve was limited to 90 games in 2023 after dealing with a broken thumb. He finished the campaign with a 311 batting average, 15 homers, 51 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases.

The post Astros and All-Star 2B Jose Altuve Agree to 5-Year, $125 Million Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

McCullers originally injured his right forearm during the 2021 playoffs and was diagnosed with a flexor tendon strain. He missed the start of the 2022 campaign but recovered in time to contribute to the Astros’ World Series-winning run. But it turned out that the issue didn’t go away as McCullers reaggravated the injury during this year’s spring training.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said in a team-released statement that McCullers “worked off his tail” to return but couldn’t shake off the injury completely. In the end, the decision was made to have surgery that would take care of the issue and have the 29-year-old player ready for 2024.

“This guy is a warrior and did everything in his power to get back,” said Brown. “But each time he built himself up to an increased pitch total off the mound, the pain would come back. It’s unfortunate, but we look forward to him being back on the mound next season.”

Lance McCullers Jr. spent all of his seven years in the majors with the Houston Astros. He has a 49–32 record as a starter with a 3.48 ERA and 800 strikeouts. McCullers was an All-Star in 2017, the same year the Astros won the first World Series in franchise history.

The post Astros’ RHP Lance McCullers Jr. Undergoes Season-Ending Forearm Surgery appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Aside from lifting the coveted World Series trophy, Montero also delivered a strong individual performance during his first season with the Astros, posting a 2.37 ERA in 68⅓ innings and allowing just three home runs while striking out 73.

Montero joined the Astros in a July 2021 trade from the Seattle Mariners. With a fastball that averaged 96.5 mph, Montero was a top target for several major league teams, particularly once he became available in free agency.

While Moreno proved himself to be a talented pitcher prior to his arrival in Houston, his new contract is more of a bet on him due to his performance last season than his career overall, with his latest season proving to be his best.

The contract with Montero bolsters and already-stacked Astros bullpen, which includes closer Ryan Pressly, Ryne Stanek, Bryan Abreu, Hector Neris, and Phil Maton.

The post Rafael Montero Signs Three-Year Deal With Astros appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“We have had great success in each of his three seasons, and James has been an important part of that success,” Astros owner Jim Crane said of Click. “I want to personally thank him and wish him and his family well moving forward.”

Click’s unexpected departure from the Astros comes after a prosperous three-year tenure with the team which culminated in World Series glory in 2022. While Click and Crane were engaged in contract negotiations over the last week, no agreement could be reached.

At the same time, manager Dusty Baker also entered into renegotiations with the team considering that his contract had the same expiry date as Click’s. Unlike the general manager, Baker decided to accept the agreement, keeping him on at the Astros.

Click joined the Astros in early 2020, following the dismissal of general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch as a result of the Major League Baseball’s investigation into the team’s sign-stealing practices.

The post GM James Click Set to Leave Astros After Declining Contract appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Click refuted a claim that he had already agreed to a new one-year deal with the team, stating, “We are having discussions right now. I think anytime that you’re having discussions it means that it’s not complete.”

The World Series-winning general manager also revealed that he already spoke with Astros owner Jim Crane about the potential contract on Monday evening, between the hours of the team’s championship parade and Click’s flight for the annual general managers’ meetings.

Houston is set to host a news conference on Wednesday afternoon when the team is expected to announce a contract extension for manager Dusty Baker. Asked if he will be part of the news conference, Click replied, “I am planning to be here trying to put together the team for next year.”

At 44 years old, Click has been at the Astros since 2020, when he took over from previous general manager Jeff Luhnow following the latter’s dismissal from his post.

The post James Click in Talks With Astros Over New Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Astros’ dominant showing isn’t much of a surprise, considering they have been consistent all season long. After leading the AL with 106 wins during the regular season, Houston swept the Seattle Mariners in ALDS and then dealt with the Yankees easier than expected.

“It’s a long road to get here,” said Astros manager Dusty Baker after Game 4, which his team won 6-5. “There’s a lot that happens in the months to get here from spring training. It means that we persevered, and we stayed together, and we made the necessary trades when we had to try to strengthen certain parts of our team.”

The Phillies, on the other hand, have caught the NL off guard, considering they barely got to the postseason as the third team in NL East. They first stunned the favored Cardinals in NLWC and then eliminated divisional rivals Atlanta Braves in just four games in an NLDS showdown.

The Padres proved to be a tougher challenge, considering every game went down to the wire. However, the Phillies showed resilience and had their best players come through when it mattered the most. This was especially the case with star right fielder Bryce Harper, who hit a home run in the eighth inning of Game 5 against the Padres to give his team a 3-4 comeback win. 

“I didn’t want to get back on that flight back to San Diego. I just didn’t want to get on a 5½-hour flight,” Harper said after the game. “I wanted to hang out at home and enjoy this at home with these fans and this organization and this fan base.”

The Astros and the Phillies will play Game 1 of the 2022 World Series on Friday. This will be the fourth World Series appearance for Houston in the past six seasons and the first for Philadelphia since 2009.

The post Astros and Phillies to Face Off in the 2022 World Series appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Astros fell behind early on partly due to the struggles of their ace Justin Verlander with the Mariners holding a confident 7-3 lead throughout seven innings. Houston cut it to 7-5 in the eighth and then set the stage for their All-Star designated hitter Yordan Alvarez to try and steal this one from Seattle at the bottom of the ninth.

The Mariners sent out their Cy Young Award-winning lefty Robbie Ray to face Alvarez, but it made little difference. Alvarez launched Ray’s second pitch into the seats, scoring a three-run walk-off homer to give Houston an unlikely win.

“I think it’s one of the most special moments that I’ve had in my career, having [my parents] there, and even for just the city of Houston,” Alvarez said after the game. “They know that we’re a team that never gives up. So just being able to get that hit right there was one of the most special moments of my career.”

In the second ALDS matchup, the New York Yankees have beaten the Cleveland Guardians 1-4 to take the lead. In the National League’s part of the bracket, the Philadelphia Phillies won Game 1 against the Atlanta Braves, while the LA Dodgers also have a lead in the series against the San Diego Padres.

The post Yordan Alvarez Hits a 3-Run Homer to Give Astros ALDS Lead Over Mariners appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

General manager James Click revealed on Friday that the team was considering several avenues in order to help Brantley overcome his injury. “ultimately, after consultation with our trainers and doctors, we … came to the conclusion that this [surgery] was the right path for him long-term for his health,” Click admitted.

Astros manager Dusty Baker added that several procedures were attempted before resorting to surgery, all of which ultimately proved ineffective. Nicknamed “Uncle Mike”, Brantley is an essential leadership figure in the team, Baker commented, emphasizing the rift that is left in the team due to his absence.

Brantley impressed during the postseason, batting .319 with nine RBIs during the Astros’ run to the World Series. He is a five-time All-Star and a .298 hitter, racking up 127 homers and 713 RBIs in 1,430 regular season games.

The post Astros’ Michael Brantley Suffers Season-Ending Injury appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

After a scoreless first inning, Christian Vazquez singled to the right at the bottom of the second to give the Red Sox 1-0 lead. Christian Arroyo then grounded into the fielder’s choice on the second to make it 2-0.

This set up a 430 feet homer for Kyle Schwarber, which allowed Arroyo, J.D. Martinez, and Alex Verdugo to score and lift Boston to 6-0.

The Red Sox continued to fill out the scoreboard at the bottom of the third. They increased their lead to 9-0 after Vazquez singled and Arroyo hit another homer.

The Astros cut into the lead with a 413 feet home run by Kyle Tucker at the top of the fourth, but this only prompted Boston to respond with more homers of their own. Martinez had a 395-foot home run at the bottom of the sixth, and Devers added 372 homer at the bottom of the eighth.

“These are the moments that you are never going to forget as a player,” Schwarber said after the game. “This is what we live for. We live to be in the postseason. When you get that first taste, that first experience, you want to keep coming. You want more. It’s an addicting feeling, and especially where it’s just rocking the whole time, and it’s rowdy.”

The post Red Sox Dominate Astros in 12-3 Win to Take ALCS Lead appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The reason for McCullers’ absence is a forearm tightness that caused the right-hander to leave Game 4 of ALDS against the Chicago White Sox after just four innings. It is unclear whether McCullers might return to the mound if Houston makes the World Series.

The news is a tough blow for the Astros, considering that McCullers had a strong regular season in which he went 13-5 in 28 starts while posting 3.16 ERA and having 185 strikeouts. His good performances carried over to the postseason, and he was particularly stellar in Game 1 against Chicago when he pitched scoreless ball into the seventh inning.

Houston can now only hope that they can get something out of Jake Odorizzi, who was added to the ALCS roster instead of McCullers. Odorizzi sat out the ALDS after struggling in the regular season. The All-Star right-hander, who joined the Astros in the offseason on a two-year, $23.5 million contract, had a 6-7 record with 4.21 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 24 games in 2021.

The post Astros to Face Red Sox in ALCS without Ace Lance McCullers Jr. appeared first on yoursportspot.com.