The Texans center will be sticking around a little while longer
Texans sign Martin to baffling extension
Sep 10, 2019, 12:55 pm
Jim Rogash/Getty Images
The Houston Texans and center Nick Martin agreed to a contract extension.
The Texans have signed C Nick Martin to a three-year, $33M extension with $18.35M guaranteed, per source.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 10, 2019
The signing of Martin at this number is baffling. The average annual salary ties him for third among center with five-time All-Pro Maurkice Pouncey. It is roughly a top-ten figure when it comes to guaranteed money at the center position.
He was drafted as a replacement for incumbent starter Ben Jones who left in free agency to the Tennessee Titans. Jones, since his departure, has been a mainstay for the Titans and even earned a contract extension with Tennessee.
Martin meanwhile has regularly been below average. He graded out as the 17th best center according to Pro Football Focus in 2018 among players who played half the snaps or more. Last year the Jones, both of the Colts centers, and Jacksonville center Brandon Linder all graded out higher than Martin.
He was the 5th best center according to grading in a four team division.
The Texans are taking a huge risk committing to Martin for this length of time when huge money will be due to Laremy Tunsil and Deshaun Watson in the near future.
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Yainer Díaz hit his first career grand slam in a six-run fifth inning and the Houston Astros had a season-high scoring total in a 14-3 rout of the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.
YAINER DIAZ. GRAND SLAM. pic.twitter.com/ZtwN9BxESa
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 12, 2025
Díaz, who entered the game with just one RBI this year, had three hits and drove in a career-high five runs in the victory.
The Astros trailed by 1 with two outs and two on in the fifth when they tied it on an RBI single by Yordan Alvarez that rolled just out of reach of a diving Tim Anderson.
Christian Walker followed with an RBI single to put the Astros up 3-2. Jack Kochanowicz (1-1) walked Jeremy Peña to load the bases and was lifted for Garrett McDaniels.
Díaz sent his third pitch into the concourse in left center field for his first homer this season to make it 7-2. It was Houston’s first grand slam since Jose Abreu’s in a 12-3 win over Texas on Sept. 6, 2023.
Díaz added an RBI double as the Astros tacked on four more runs in the sixth inning.
Rookie Cam Smith doubled in the sixth and his first career home run made it 13-3 in the eighth.
THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER.
Cam Smith with his first Major League Home Run! pic.twitter.com/Hb91OjGUgk
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 12, 2025
Mike Trout hit a solo homer in the fourth inning for the Angels to give him six this year which is tied with last season for his most home runs through the first 13 games. It was the team’s 19th home run combined in the last six games, which is a franchise record for a six-game span — topping the 18 they hit in six games in the 2003 season
The Astros took a 1-0 lead in the second when Peña scored on a sacrifice fly by Jake Meyers.
Los Angeles tied it on Trout’s home run off the wall above the seats in left field to open the fourth inning.
Kyren Paris opened the fifth with a double and scored on a single by Jo Adell to put the Angels up 2-1 before Houston took the lead with its outburst in the bottom of the inning.
Houston starter Ronel Blanco (1-1) allowed four hits and two runs in five innings for the win.
Key moment
The grand slam by Díaz that broke the game open.
Key stat
Nine of Houston’s runs came with two outs.
Up next
Houston RHP Ryan Gusto (1-0, 1.13 ERA) opposes LHP Tyler Anderson (0-0, 4.50) when the series continues Saturday night.