Astros agree to 1-year deals with 6 players, including All-Stars Framber Valdez and Kyle Tucker
HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros agreed with six players Thursday on one-year contracts that avoided arbitration, including All-Star lefty Framber Valdez and outfielder Kyle Tucker.
Valdez will make $12.1 million next season. Tucker gets a $12 million salary.
The Astros also reached deals with outfielder Chas McCormick ($2.85 million) and pitchers Bryan Abreu ($1.75 million), Luis Garcia ($1,875,000) and José Urquidy ($3.75 million).
Valdez has been one of the American League’s best pitchers over the past two seasons, making the All-Star team and finishing in the top 10 of AL Cy Young Award voting both years. He was 12-11 with a 3.45 ERA last season.
Tucker, a two-time All-Star, led the AL with 112 RBIs while hitting .284 with 29 homers and 30 stolen bases last year.
The only Astros player eligible for arbitration who failed to reach a deal was utilityman Maurico Dubón. He asked for $3.5 million and Houston offered $3 million when teams and players swapped 2024 salary proposals Thursday.
Dubón can still negotiate a deal with the club before a hearing. Eligible players without agreements will be scheduled for hearings before three-person panels from Jan. 29 through Feb. 16 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
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Even with Shota Imanaga signing with the Chicago Cubs, the MLB free agent pool still consists of tons of high-end talent on both sides. Need rotation help? Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, and Marcus Stroman are all still available for the taking. Need an elite closer? Josh Hader’s your man. Is solid pop what you’re looking for? Matt Chapman, Cody Bellinger, and Rhys Hoskins are still there.
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