George Springer agrees to deal with Blue Jays
On Tuesday night former Astros center fielder George Springer agreed to a 6-year $150 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays according to MLB Networks, Jon Heyman.
Springer and Jays agree at $150M for 6 years
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 20, 2021
But the Blue Jays still appear to be looking to add to their roster in free agency. Their next target, former Astros left fielder Michael Brantley. Rumors have been swirling about George Springer's desire for Michael Brantley to join him on his next team. Springer and Brantley are close friends and also share an agent. And apparently the Blue Jays have serious interest in Brantley, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
Blue Jays still trying for free-agent outfielder Michael Brantley, sources tell @TheAthletic. Brantley is close friends with George Springer and represented by same agency, Excel Sports Management. Wrote Sunday about possibility of NBA-style package deal. https://t.co/er4Jj5HtF6
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 20, 2021
This would be a crushing blow for the Astros to lose both Brantley and Springer to Toronto. Former Astros right fielder Josh Reddick is also a free agent that won't be returning to Houston, which puts the Astros in a position where they only have one starter locked-in to play the outfield in 2021, that being Kyle Tucker. Just last year the Astros lost one of the best pitchers in baseball, when Gerrit Cole broke the bank signing a 9-year $324 million contract with the Yankees. Add that to Springer leaving for Toronto and possibly Brantley as well, and you have an Astros team losing three of their best players in short order. Hopefully, the Astros can find a way to bring back Brantley who is clearly one of the best hitters in the heart of Houston's lineup. In Brantley's two seasons with Houston he hit over .300 with 27 bombs and 112 RBI.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.