Astros Offseason
What Astros arbitration means for the future of George Springer
Jan 11, 2020, 4:11 am
Astros Offseason
What you need to know:
Ahead of Friday night's arbitration deadline, the Astros reached 1-year agreements with four players: Carlos Correa ($8 million), Roberto Osuna ($10 million), Chris Devenski ($2 million), and Brad Peacock ($3.9 million) per ESPN's Jeff Passan.
The biggest news came from their failure to reach an agreement with outfielder George Springer. According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, Springer is seeking $22.5 million, which is $10.5 million more than his salary last year and $5 million more than the $17.5 million offered by the Astros. It's the biggest gap of all of this year's arbitration cases across MLB. The parties now appear to be headed to a hearing in February to determine Springer's salary in what is his final year of team control.The biggest arbitration case in terms of both salary and the gap between sides: George Springer vs. the Astros. He's asking for $22.5 million and Houston is offering $17.5 million, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 11, 2020
Houston also failed to reach an agreement with infielder Aledmys Diaz. The gap is not as big with Diaz ($600k difference) and more importantly, the stakes aren't as high as they are with Springer.
Springer, in a sense, should be a free agent this offseason. Back at the start of the 2014 season, though, George declined an extremely team-friendly contract. After failing to lock Springer into a multi-year deal, the Astros responded by manipulating his service time. By tethering him to the minor leagues just a few days into the season, the team was able to maintain control of his contract for an additional year. Dissatisfied by the move, Springer and his (then) representation explored filing a grievance through the MLBPA.
It's worth noting a couple of things. First, this is standard practice within MLB. Second, it was a shrewd, bad-faith, punitive move by a cunning, analytically-driven front office.
Springer and the Astros went on to achieve the sort of on-field success that helps rinse away the bitter taste of business. Both sides avoided arbitration in 2018 by agreeing to a 2-year, $24 million contract. The deal seemed to be a sign that the two parties were back on the same page.
This time around, the parties aren't close.
It begs the question: will George Springer have a future with the Astros beyond 2020? It's hard to imagine the current iteration of the Astros without their fan-favorite centerfielder. From the iconic 2014 Sports Illustrated cover, to his eventual World Series MVP in 2017, Springer is a cornerstone of Houston's success. But the business doesn't much account for nostalgia, fandom, or loyalty. Houston does not have unlimited resources and already carries a top-10 payroll.The Astros haven't won a hearing since beating catcher Jason Castro in 2016, losing five in a row. They lost to pitcher Collin McHugh in 2017 and '18, lost to pitcher Ken Giles in '18 and last year lost to pitcher Gerrit Cole and Correa.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) January 11, 2020
The Astros unapologetically made the best business decision for themselves in 2014. George Springer will be in a position to do the same in 2021. For the record, the Astros haven't won an arbitration hearing since 2016. Springer has a reasonable shot at getting his asking price. There's also a fair chance this is the last time the Astros pay it. Each a victim of their own success, Springer and the Astros are nearing the point at which they can no longer afford the other.
Update Jan. 16, 2020: The Astros reached an agreement with George Springer for $21M, avoiding arbitration.
The Houston Astros will try to bounce back and avoid a sweep as they face the San Francisco Giants in the series finale on Wednesday afternoon at Daikin Park.
Houston will turn to ace Framber Valdez (1-0, 0.00 ERA), who was dominant in his season debut, allowing no runs with four strikeouts. The left-hander will look to slow down a Giants team that has won three straight road games and is off to a hot start.
San Francisco counters with right-hander Landen Roupp, who will be making his season debut. The Giants (4-1) have relied on timely hitting and strong pitching early in the season, holding opponents to just 2.6 runs per game.
The Astros (2-3) are still searching for consistency at the plate, averaging just 1.8 runs per game and adjusting to life without All-Stars Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman. José Altuve provided a spark with his first home run of the season on Tuesday, but Houston will need more production to avoid dropping further below .500.
Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez is off to a slow start, with only one hit in sixteen at-bats. Alvarez is not the only one struggling as Isaac Paredes, Christian Walker, Yainer Diaz, Jeremy Pena, and Cam Smith all are hitting below .200.
Here's a look at Wednesday's lineup. Yordan getting the start in left, with Altuve in the DH spot. Brendan Rogers gets the nod at second base, with Zach Dezenzo filling in for Smith in right field.
Homestand finale pic.twitter.com/t7vgxmWRBV
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 2, 2025
Betting Line: The Giants are slight favorites at -137, with the over/under set at 8 runs.
Up Next: After the series wraps, the Astros will head to Minnesota for a three-game series against the Twins.
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