The Houston Astros and six returning players have been able to avoid arbitration this offseason. The Astros sought to keep as many players from their championship roster as possible before spring training. Players with no less than three, and no more than six years of major league service time are eligible for salary arbitration. One Astro remains from the list of arbitration-eligible players this offseason, and that is utility infielder Mauricio Dubón.
The Houston Astros have avoided arbitration and have agreed to terms on one-year contracts with RHP Bryan Abreu, RHP Luis Garcia, OF Chas McCormick, OF Kyle Tucker, RHP José Urquidy and LHP Framber Valdez.
— Houston Astros (@astros) January 12, 2024
Astros Avoid Arbitration with Six Players
The Rotation and The Bullpen
Pitching might be the least strong outlook, or the one with the most variability, for the Astros heading into 2024. Their number one through three starters are likely to be Framber Valdez, Justin Verlander, and Chrisitan Javier. With injuries plaguing Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia until at least late spring, Houston will be digging into their bag of tricks to start the season. Last year’s rookies Hunter Brown and J. P. France will need to step up like they did last season and shore up the Astros’ rotation for at least the first few months of 2024.
Veteran Jose Urquidy will be called upon once again this season. The right-handed hurler agreed to a $3.75 million contract, avoiding arbitration with the Astros. Urquidy only started six games in 2023 before heading to the injured list. When he returned in August, he struggled to return to form, finishing with a 5.39 ERA.
All-Star left-handed starting pitcher Framber Valdez will pick up $12.1 million next season. Valdez has proven himself to be one of the American League’s premier hurlers over the past two seasons. Along the way, he has made the All-Star team both years and finished in the top 10 of AL Cy Young Award voting both seasons as well. Last season, he placed in the top ten of AL Cy Young voting and tossed his first career no-hitter.
The Star Slugger
Right-fielder Kyle Tucker, who finished fifth in American League Most Valuable Player voting last season, agreed to a $12 million salary for the 2024 season, his last before potentially hitting the free agent market. Last season, Tucker posted a .284/.369/.517 slash line, and picked up 29 home runs and 30 stolen bases along the way to garnering his second All-Star selection, his first Silver Slugger award, and becoming a Gold Glove finalist.
First Timers
Rounding out the list of arbitration-eligible players were outfielder Chas McCormick and pitchers Bryan Abreu and Luis Garcia. Each of these players was arbitration-eligible for the first time. McCormick shined as a platoon player in the outfield throughout 2023. He agreed to a $2.85 million salary following a season featuring 22 home runs and an .842 OPS. Abreu notched a $1.75 million deal, as the right-hander made a team-high 72 appearances and posted a 1.75 ERA as the Astros’ primary set-up man.
Garcia agreed to a bump in salary as well, getting a $1.875 million salary. His increase is likely in anticipation of what he will bring to the table later in 2024 and beyond. Six games into the 2023 season, Tommy John surgery derailed the rest of his season. He is expected to return in 2024, prior to the All-Star Game.
The Straggler
The only player eligible for arbitration that the Astros could not reach a deal with before the deadline was Mauricio Dubón. In his second year of eligibility, Dubón played in a career-high 132 games. He spent most of his time at second base as an injury replacement for Jose Altuve with a slew of games in center field later in the season. Along the way, he picked up the AL Gold Glove Award for utility players. The two sides will come together later in the month if they cannot find a middle ground for salary for an arbitration panel to choose the final compensation.
Photo Credit: “Houston Astros Minute Maid Park” by pscf11 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
