Astros reportedly extend slugger Yordan Alvarez with six-year, $115 million deal
The Houston Astros are extending one of the best sluggers in baseball on a long-term deal. Designated hitter Yordan Alvarez reportedly agreed to a six-year, $115 million extension Friday, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
The deal kicks in next season and is the largest contract ever handed out to a designated hitter.
Slugger Yordan Álvarez and the Houston Astros are in agreement on a six-year, $115 million contract extension, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Contract kicks in next season. Biggest contract ever for a DH and $26M/year for 3 FA years. And Astros lock up a great hitter.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 3, 2022
Alvarez is making just over $700,000 this season. He was set to hit arbitration for the first time following the 2022 MLB season. The contract covers the entirety of Alvarez's arbitration years and three seasons of what would have been Alvarez's free-agent years. Alvarez will reportedly make $26 million per season over the final three years of the deal. That's a hefty amount, but one Alvarez would likely exceed if he continues to perform well over the next couple seasons.
The deal is also among the largest contracts handed out to a player who has yet to reach arbitration.
Yordan Álvarez's six-year, $115M deal with the Astros is the fourth biggest ever for a player who has yet to reach arbitration, behind only Fernando Tatis Jr. (14/340), Buster Posey (8/159) and Mike Trout (6/144.5). Álvarez, 24, is one of the best hitters in MLB. Deserves it.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 3, 2022
Alvarez, 24, made his debut with the Astros in 2019. He produced at the plate immediately, hitting .313/.412/.655 with 27 home runs over 87 games. Alvarez then missed nearly the entire 2020 MLB season while dealing with a knee injury. Alvarez eventually underwent surgeries on both knees.
He returned to action in 2021 and hit .277/.346/.531 with 33 home runs over 144 games. That success carried over to 2022, with Alvarez hitting .272/.367/.574 with 14 home runs.
