
Texans, Brandin Cooks agree to extension. Composite image by Brandon Strange.
ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that the Texans and Brandin Cooks have agreed to a 2-year contract extension.
And so Brandin Cooks is off the trade market; he will be in Houston. https://t.co/IqhuHMYcRt
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 7, 2022
Rumors have been swirling about Brandin Cooks, and the interest he's received from WR-needy teams across the NFL. But many believed the Texans would hold on to Cooks to help develop QB Davis Mills. Plus, Cooks has been traded so many times in his career, and he has reportedly expressed a desire to stay with the Texans. So this signing works out well for both parties, and teams can now stop calling the Texans about Cooks' availability.
This signing also allows GM Nick Caserio to have flexibility in the draft. He won't feel pressure to draft a receiver purely out of necessity. Details of the contract are not known at this time.
While firm numbers are not yet available, Brandin Cooks should be able to earn just under $20M per year on the 2-year deal through 2024. So, he stays in Houston with a big raise. https://t.co/zuafB3f0KW
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 7, 2022
Hunter Brown pitched two-hit ball into the sixth inning, and the Houston Astros beat the slumping Cincinnati Reds 3-0 on Friday night.
Brown (6-1) struck out nine, matching his season high for the fourth straight start. The right-hander also issued a season-high four walks in his fifth consecutive win.
Brown departed after Gavin Lux walked with two out in the sixth. Kaleb Ort got Spencer Steer to bounce into a forceout at second.
Josh Hader handled the ninth for his ninth save.
Cincinnati finished with four hits in its sixth loss in seven games.
Reds right-hander Nick Martinez (1-4) surrendered 10 hits and three runs in six innings. He struck out five and walked none.
Zach Dezenzo hit a two-out RBI single in the second, and the Astros added two more runs in the fifth.
Mauricio Dubón followed Brendan Rodgers’ leadoff double with a chopper past third baseman Santiago Espinal, moving Rodgers to third. Jeremy Peña drove in Rodgers with a groundout to second, and Isaac Paredes doubled home Dubón with two down.
Jose Altuve, Christian Walker, and Yainer Diaz each had two hits for the Astros.
Cincinnati's Austin Hays returned from the injured list after missing 10 games with a left hamstring strain. He went 1 for 4.
Reds outfielder Jake Fraley was scratched due to left calf tenderness after missing the last two games.
Key moment
Tyler Stephenson hit a one-out double for Cincinnati in the ninth. But Hader struck out Rece Hinds and Espinal, ending the game.
Key stat
It was Houston's first win against the Reds since June 19, 2016, ending a nine-game skid.
Up next
Lance McCullers Jr. (0-0 0.00 ERA) will make his second start of the season and first home start since October 3, 2022, against Reds right-hander Brady Singer (4-2 3.66 ERA) on Saturday night.