Altuve's $151M extension is the first of a number of big deals the club could makeGETTY IMAGES
The Astros' payroll is set to climb to fifth in MLB this season at about $168M, and it "likely will continue increasing if the club expects to retain its core players," according to Jorge Ortiz of USA TODAY. Yesterday's announcement of a five-year, $151M extension for 2B Jose Altuve figures to "mark just the first of several big-money commitments for the club." Astros P Dallas Keuchel and LF Marwin Gonzalez can become a free agents after this season, while SS Carlos Correa will be "eligible for arbitration next year for the first time." Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said team Owner & Chair Jim Crane is "committed to keeping the best team on the field for as long as possible, giving us a chance to win multiple championships." Ortiz notes during their years "revamping the roster" from '12-14, the Astros "sank to the bottom of the salary rankings, with a couple of last-place finishes." It is "not lost on the players that, as reigning world champions, they’re spreading the wealth around" (USA TODAY, 3/20). In Houston, Jerome Solomon writes, "These aren't your grandmother's or your father's or even your older brother's Astros." Making Altuve, whom Luhnow "described as the 'heart' of the team, one of the highest-paid players in baseball is another sign that the Astros place winning above all else." From top to bottom, Crane has "built a franchise that dares to be great." Not long ago, the franchise "was a laughingstock" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/20).
