The Houston Astros signed the reigning American League MVP to the largest contract in franchise history.
Jose Altuve agreed to a seven-year, $163.5 million contract, according to ESPN. The deal surpasses the six-year, $100 million contract Houston gave to Carlos Lee in 2006.
“This is a very important day for me and I thank God and I thank my family,” said Altuve, “and the most important thing for me is [my teammates] being here. Everything is done, and now I can just play baseball.”
Leading Houston to its first World Series last year, Altuve won the AL batting title with a .346 batting average, 24 home runs, 32 steals and 81 RBI’s. He also hit .310 in the postseason with seven home runs in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.
“Certainly a fan favorite. Our fans love Jose,” owner Jim Crane said to ESPN. “Winner, MVP — what else can you say? He always leads by example. When I talk to the guys in the locker room, everybody is better because of Jose, and he’s a great leader. So, Jose, you’re the heart of the team. We’re happy to have you for the long-term.”
“This is our franchise player, and he’s getting better every year,” Luhnow added. “Quite frankly, this [extension] is something we’ve discussed every year for the past three years, it just all came together this year. This is the perfect timing for our franchise.”
Altuve, 27, is a five-time All-Star and he credits his faith in Christ for his success on the baseball diamond.
“I grew up in a family that always told me that to achieve success, we needed to have God first,” Altuve said through a translator in a video the Astros released back in 2015. “To achieve success wasn’t to get to the major leagues or have the best season in the world. The best success is to live your life the way God wants you to. If you can do that, if you can be good with God, then I think you will have success in your life.”
The Astros open the 2018 season on the road against the Texas Rangers on March 29.
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