David J. Phillip/AP
Jose Altuve, the Houston Astros’ star second baseman, will be an Astro for life, general manager Dana Brown announced Tuesday.
The Astros and Altuve agreed to a five-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday evening. The contract will cover the 2025 to 2029 seasons. Altuve will be 39 years old by the end of his contract extension.
“I have obviously two homes,” he said Wednesday at a news conference, a day after the deal was announced. “I grew up in Venezuela, my country. Every time I go there, I tell my wife ‘Let’s go home.’ And then when it’s time to come back, I tell her ‘Let’s come back home.'”
An eight-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion and the 2017 AL MVP, Altuve had started to discuss free agency last year with wife Nina.
“I come back every day, after a night game, and I see my daughters sleeping,” Altuve said. “I can wake up the next day and take them to school, so that was where the conversation where everything started, and we decided to stay here in Houston. We will never move from here.”
Houston Mayor John Whitmire declared Wednesday Jose Altuve Day, with the date, 2/7, matching Altuve’s jersey number. More than a dozen of Altuve’s teammates and coaches attended the news conference along with Hall of Fame second baseman Craig Biggio.
“Jose Altuve is the heartbeat of this organization,” Astros general manager Dana Brown said. “He’s a franchise player. He’s on pace to be in the Hall of Fame. He’s a fan favorite, and without a doubt, he’s the spark to our Clubhouse, to our dugout, and he’s an Astro for life.”
Altuve entered the 2024 season in the final year of a seven-year contract extension that he signed on March 19, 2018, according to the Houston Astros.
MLB reported the contract deal is worth $125 million, including $30 million each season from 2025 until 2027.
Altuve hit .311 with 15 homers, 51 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in the 90 games played last year. He didn’t make his season debut until May last year after he sustained a broke his left thumb when hit by a pitch from Daniel Bard while playing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.