Astros Tender Seven Arbitration-Eligible Players At Deadline
The non-tender deadline came and went on Friday and the Houston Astros did largely what was expected of them when it came to their arbitration-eligible players on their 40-man roster.
All seven arbitration-eligible players were tendered and now the Astros will have to find either a contract agreement with them for 2024, put together a contract extension or have to go to arbitration next year.
The Astros now have 38 players on their 40-man roster.
Earlier this fall, MLB Trade Rumors published its annual projections of what each Astros player that is eligible for arbitration could receive. Those projections could cost the Astros, potentially, $38.5 million. Those players include:
Framber Valdez: $12.1MM
Kyle Tucker: $12.6MM
Jose Urquidy: $3.5MM
Mauricio Dubon: $3.1MM
Luis Garcia: $2.1MM
Bryan Abreu: $2MM
Chas McCormick: $3.1MM
Arbitration doesn’t begin until January 12, the deadline for arbitration figures to be exchanged. In most cases, teams will come to an agreement on a one-year salary, or an extension, before the deadline.
Tucker and Valdez are the most prominent cases the Astros will have to deal with, as each has more than four years of service time and will be eligible for arbitration once more after the 2024 season.
Tucker was just named the Astros’ Most Valuable Player by the Houston chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Tucker slashed .284/.369/.517/.886 with 29 home runs, 112 RBI and 30 stolen bases. His 112 RBI was an American League-high.
Tucker will be able to bring a strong case. He’s finished in the Top 20 in MVP voting each of the last three seasons, as a Gold Glove, a World Series ring and made his second All-Star Game appearance in July.
Valdez was just named the Astros Pitcher of the Year after he went 12-11 this season with a 3.45 ERA and a career-high 200 strikeouts as he made his second straight All-Star team. He threw his first career no-hitter.
