The Houston Astros gave a massive extension to the reigning American League MVP on Friday. Altuve’s new contract is a step in the right direction, but one player might not be excited about it.
The fact that Jose Altuve is a franchise player is unquestionable. He led the American League in hits in each of the past four years and helped the Houston Astros claim the organization’s first World Series championship.
It would be a shame that one of the most reliable players in team history walk away without capturing at least another title. That’s why Houston inked the 5-foot-6 All-Star to a massive 5-year, $151 million extension.
This may be the beginning of a simple plan by general manager Jeff Luhnow: keep the Astros’ best players on the Astros. Altuve was the foundation for the franchise during its tanking period. Now he’s the starting point for what could become the next baseball dynasty.
Not many players in Houston organization’s suffer from this move. Among the organization’s top prospects, next to none are second basemen.
But it affects Tony Kemp, who has torn up Triple-A the previous few seasons at that position. Now his biggest opportunity will have to come via the outfield or because of an injury.
Kemp resembles Altuve in some ways. He boasts the same stature as Altuve and possibly just as much speed. The 26-year-old swiped at least 20 bags in Fresno in two of the past three years.
However, he has yet to develop into a more mature, intimidating hitter. Though he hit better than .300 in Triple-A in 2016 and 2017, he didn’t demonstrate any power until last year, when he posted a career-best .470 slugging percentage.
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Even those numbers pale in comparison to Altuve though – as they probably should.
Nevertheless, if the Venezuelan endured any form of injury, the Astros have a player with some similar traits as backup. But that may be the only way Kemp receives any time on the club, as he has seemingly exited the outfield equation.
Altuve, the reigning A.L. MVP, is in his prime. It’s a depressing fact to realize he cannot produce at this level forever. And he may not make it through the next five years in an Astros jersey, only because that’s how baseball works.
Houston fans can’t complain. As long as the second baseman sticks around, they won’t.
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And by the time he does leave the Astros, whether it be due to a trade or retirement, he could be deemed the best player in the franchise’s history.