Altuve extension?

[jaklewein]

McTaggart reporting Astros are working on one. Don’t have link. Sorry.

Awesome news if true. With team looking as good as it does, this has been my on want...start working on keeping a few of these guys together long term, and start with Altuve!

[MusicMan]

Tags says 5 yr/$150M starting in 2020.


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[Navin R Johnson]

Awesome!  Well deserved.

[Craig]

That is outstanding. Also reported on MLB Trade Rumors.

[mrpink]

Fantastic news!!  Congrats to Jose!

[Fredia]

he deserves it glad the Astros are up to upping

[hostros7]

I’m elated this deal got done.


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[jaklewein]

I’m elated this deal got done.


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Let’s just hope it indeed does get done.

[Ty in Tampa]

Great news! $30M/year is a lot of cake. Is anyone else in MLB making that now?

[Reuben]

I listened to the astroline from a couple days ago where Bill Brown interviewed Luhnow. One of the questions was about keeping the core guys around, and Luhnow gushed about Altuve, saying he has skills that usually age well, a la Wade Boggs and Tony Gwynn. Also talked about wanting to keep a guy who might be their next HoFer. It was the first time I really started to think they might actually keep him around.

But I certainly didn’t think they’d do it this soon. Fantastic!

[Reuben]

Great news! $30M/year is a lot of cake. Is anyone else in MLB making that now?

Trout, Kershaw, Greinke, Price off the top of my head.

[jaklewein]

Great news! $30M/year is a lot of cake. Is anyone else in MLB making that now?

 Or a little under 23 1/2 million per year if you factor in 18 and 19. I was hoping they would use the next two cheap years to their advantage and lock him up while they could still sell him on the fact that he could get big money or risk getting injured one of the next two seasons. Not saying that’s how they went about it, but you have to believe Altuve at least took a look at it from that angle.

[geezerdonk]

Worth every penny. Hope its OK with Keuchel.

[JimR]

Great news!

[moriartp]

YES!!!

[das]

Good job, Astros. We are certainly in a golden age to be an Astros fan.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Dilly Dilly!

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22797342/houston-astros-extend-jose-altuve-5-year-deal

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Worth every penny. Hope its OK with Keuchel.

I chortled.

[TerryPuhl21]

Fantastic news and I think this is a great deal for both sides. Congrats Jose, you certainly earned this!!!!


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[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Not too shabby.

[doyce7]

Damn I picked a hell of a day to unplug. So fucking happy he ain't going anywhere

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[geezerdonk]

Now do George.

[juliogotay]

I did not realize Boras represents Altuve.

[JimR]

I did not realize Boras represents Altuve.

Been written here numerous times with fear and trepidation.

[juliogotay]

Been written here numerous times with fear and trepidation.

I wonder if Boras is getting a little nervous with the FA market after this off-season? Or if his client just said, "Scott I want to do this?"

[Mr. Happy]

I wonder if Boras is getting a little nervous with the FA market after this off-season? Or if his client just said, "Scott I want to do this?"

My suspicion is that this was Altuve's call.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

If it's a good deal for Altuve, then it is a good deal for his agent. It is good for all partied involved.

[DVauthrin]

Great news!

[NeilT]

I hadn’t realized until this morning that it was in extension, and the Altuve was now under contract for 7 years. That’s outstanding.

[juliogotay]

If it's a good deal for Altuve, then it is a good deal for his agent. It is good for all partied involved.

Boras has turned down plenty of "good deals" to take his players to market.

[Fredia]

how much control does the player have in situations like this?

[austro]

I hadn’t realized until this morning that it was in extension, and the Altuve was now under contract for 7 years. That’s outstanding.

I think jaklewein's observation yesterday was very astute: they effectively have signed Altuve to a $23.5MM/yr, 7-year deal. That's a great deal in the current market.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Boras has turned down plenty of "good deals" to take his players to market.

Because he believed he could get even better than "good deals". If I want to make it personal, as a fan I fucking hate Boras. But from a detached distance, I admire what he has been able to accomplish in his career. He is the greatest sports agent of all time.

[juliogotay]

Because he believed he could get even better than "good deals". If I want to make it personal, as a fan I fucking hate Boras. But from a detached distance, I admire what he has been able to accomplish in his career. He is the greatest sports agent of all time.

He is the greatest sports agent of all time

No argument here.  There is a reason he is referred to by some as the "Baseball Anti-Christ'".

[das]

how much control does the player have in situations like this?

The player has 100% control in this situation.  Boras (and all agents) work for the player.  Unfortunately, a great number of players yield that control to the agents.  It's no different than working with a realtor or financial manager.  Yield control at your own peril. 

[Fredia]

thank you.  you are right some of the players seem to be taking less instead of more

[JimR]

The player has 100% control in this situation.  Boras (and all agents) work for the player.  Unfortunately, a great number of players yield that control to the agents.  It's no different than working with a realtor or financial manager.  Yield control at your own peril.

As Moustakas will tell you

[Duman]

While I agree that it was Altuve driving the extension, I bet Boras is okay with this as it helps set the price for the big free agent market next off season. 

[toddthebod]

While I agree that it was Altuve driving the extension, I bet Boras is okay with this as it helps set the price for the big free agent market next off season.

Why would Boras be okay with this?  He's looking for a lot more for his free agents next season -- both in terms of years and money.  If Altuve sets the market, then next year's free agents are not going to break the bank.

In terms of total WAR from 2012-2017, Altuve's WAR is 29.3, Machado is 28.0, and Harper is 26.1.

From this standpoint, Altuve is the most valuable of the three and he ONLY got a 5 year contact with an average salary of $25 million.  How does this help Machado and Harper.  And it's not like Altuve is much older -- he's only 2 years older than both Machado and Harper. 

[MusicMan]

Check your math. It’s a $30M/yr average.


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[toddthebod]

Check your math. It’s a $30M/yr average.


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$21 million of the contract is in the form of a signing bonus that is being paid this season and next.  For the 5 year extension, he is getting $26 million per year on average.  I rounded down to $25 million.   

But even if you want to use the $30 million number, its still below what Harper and Machado are looking for.

[BudGirl]

$21 million of the contract is in the form of a signing bonus that is being paid this season and next.  For the 5 year extension, he is getting $26 million per year on average.  I rounded down to $25 million.   

But even if you want to use the $30 million number, its still below what Harper and Machado are looking for.

Best of luck to them, but it seems Altuve got what he wanted.  Maybe he knows that if he gets the whole bag of cash it's harder to win championships.  I love Altuve, he does not seem like a player that makes it all about him.

From today's press release.
Altuve agrees to 5-year extension with Astros
The Houston Astros have agreed to a seven-year contract with the reigning American League MVP and five-time All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve. The deal begins in 2018 and runs through the 2024 season, as announced earlier today by Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla.

"Jose is a tremendous talent on the field and a leader for us in the clubhouse," said Luhnow. "We're very excited to announce the extension today and we're hopeful this is another step towards bringing multiple championships to the City of Houston."

"My family and I have made Houston our home," said Altuve. "I have great teammates and coaches and we all have the same goal, we want to work hard and we want to win. Last year was really fun, but it's in the past. I'm excited about what the future holds and I'm excited to be with the Astros for years to come."

[MusicMan]

$21 million of the contract is in the form of a signing bonus that is being paid this season and next.  For the 5 year extension, he is getting $26 million per year on average.  I rounded down to $25 million.   

But even if you want to use the $30 million number, its still below what Harper and Machado are looking for.

That pretends that he’s not getting the signing bonus. If you want to look at it that way, he’s getting 7 years at $23.7M per.


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[Ty in Tampa]

Who gives a fuck about Boras anyway?

[Duman]

Why would Boras be okay with this?  He's looking for a lot more for his free agents next season -- both in terms of years and money.  If Altuve sets the market, then next year's free agents are not going to break the bank.

In terms of total WAR from 2012-2017, Altuve's WAR is 29.3, Machado is 28.0, and Harper is 26.1.

From this standpoint, Altuve is the most valuable of the three and he ONLY got a 5 year contact with an average salary of $25 million.  How does this help Machado and Harper.  And it's not like Altuve is much older -- he's only 2 years older than both Machado and Harper.

It is a heck of a lot more $ and more years than most of his clients got this off season. 

[JimR]

Why would Boras be okay with this?  He's looking for a lot more for his free agents next season -- both in terms of years and money.  If Altuve sets the market, then next year's free agents are not going to break the bank.

In terms of total WAR from 2012-2017, Altuve's WAR is 29.3, Machado is 28.0, and Harper is 26.1.

From this standpoint, Altuve is the most valuable of the three and he ONLY got a 5 year contact with an average salary of $25 million.  How does this help Machado and Harper.  And it's not like Altuve is much older -- he's only 2 years older than both Machado and Harper.

What is the point of this tirade?

[jaklewein]

What is the point of this tirade?

Exactly.  We locked (for 5 more years, 7 total) up maybe the best player to ever play for the franchise.  I want to say I was hopeful, but was really preparing myself for his eventual departure (along with others).  This gives me hope that 1)  there's a good chance we can allow Altuve to finish his career in Houston; and 2) that maybe we can get another player or two to stay on as well.  As I have been saying...after the Cole trade, what more could you ask for from management/ownership heading into '18?  Well, they just answered that question and then some.  I can't say enough about how well this team has/is being run.  How proud I am to be an Astros fan...  How lucky I feel as well!

[toddthebod]

What is the point of this tirade?

Read more, post less.

This was a response to Duman's post that the Altuve signing sets the market and will be good for Boras' other clients.  My conclusion is that if Altuve's signing sets the market, it is not good for next year's free agent class because Altuve got less money and years than what the top free agents apparently will be seeking.

From an Astros perspective, however, I love the deal.  Couldn't be happier.   

[JimR]

“My conclusion,” you say? Did you refute Duman completely?

My conclusion is what the “top free agents” seek (meaning what Boras wants) in money and years no longer makes a difference. Ask Moustakas or Holland or Martinez.

Altuve obviously took charge of this negotiation and told Boras to make it happen. More players should remind him what “agent” means.

[toddthebod]

“My conclusion,” you say? Did you refute Duman completely?

My conclusion is what the “top free agents” seek (meaning what Boras wants) in money and years no longer makes a difference. Ask Moustakas or Holland or Martinez.

Altuve obviously took charge of this negotiation and told Boras to make it happen. More players should remind him what “agent” means.

Sure, but agents always use recent contracts to argue that their client should get the same or more.

Altuve's contract extension had the largest AAV for a position player agreed to this offseason.  And I am assuming that that is why Duman said that it would set the market.

However, Altuve's contract does not suggest that Harper or Machado should get 10 yrs and $400 million. 

To the contrary it suggests that Harper and Machado should max out at a 7 year contract (which would similarly take Harper and Machado to their 34 age season) with a total contract value of $210 million (if you use the $30 million AAV for Altuve, which I'm not sure even works given the multiple bonuses that are being paid out.)

Of course, the major difference is that Altuve is not a free agent.  There aren't multiple teams bidding on his services and he is captured to the Astros for the next two season with significant risks for Altuve.  So it is certainly possible that the price tag for Harper and Machado could end up being significantly higher. 

But if I am a GM, I am using Altuve as my comp to establish the ceiling for Harper and Machado.

[Duman]

Sure, but agents always use recent contracts to argue that their client should get the same or more.

Altuve's contract extension had the largest AAV for a position player agreed to this offseason.  And I am assuming that that is why Duman said that it would set the market....


But if I am a GM, I am using Altuve as my comp to establish the ceiling for Harper and Machado.

And before Altuve's contract... what was that ceiling?  Hosmer? 8 yrs AAV 18 million?   JD Martinez 5 yr AAV 22 million?   Altuve's sets the bar much higher.  GM's can use it as a ceiling but Boras/Agents can use it as a starting place or at least a reference point for bidding.  As long as there are two teams interested, anything can happen. 

[Reuben]

And before Altuve's contract... what was that ceiling?  Hosmer? 8 yrs AAV 18 million?   JD Martinez 5 yr AAV 22 million?   Altuve's sets the bar much higher.  GM's can use it as a ceiling but Boras/Agents can use it as a starting place or at least a reference point for bidding.  As long as there are two teams interested, anything can happen.

A Trout-type deal was the likely comparison for Harper, and to a lesser extent Machado. I think Todd is overstating things, but I also don’t think Altuve’s deal sets the bar much higher. None of it is apples-apples, in any case, because Altuve and Trout were not Free Agents. As you say, with two teams bidding, anything can happen. Even if one of them is only a “mystery “.

[Lefty]

Trout, Harper, Machado, Correa, Bryant...