Pressly excited to stay with the Astros long term

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- When reliever Ryan Pressly walked into the Astros' clubhouse last July for the first time, after being acquired from the Twins, reigning American League Most Valuable Player Award winner Jose Altuve came up and hugged him and said he was glad he didn’t have to face him anymore.

Pressly knew right away that Houston was going to be his home.

The Astros ensured Pressly would remain in H-town for at least the next three years by announcing Wednesday they had signed him to a two-year contract extension, through 2021. Pressly, who’s making $2.9 million this year and was set to be a free agent at the end of the season, will make $8.75 million in ’20 and ’21, with a $10 million vesting option for ’22.

The Astros typically prefer short-terms deals with relievers because of the high degree of variability, but they were willing to commit longer to Pressly.

“For us, having stability in our bullpen was an objective we were trying to accomplish here and Ryan, in our opinion, has been one of the top 10 relievers in baseball for the last few years,” Astros general manager and president of baseball operations Jeff Luhnow said. “To be able to lock him up and know he’s going to be with the Houston Astros for the next three-plus years is an important consideration for us.”

Pressly, a Dallas-area native whose fiancee is from Houston, had a terrific second half with the Astros last year. He posted a 0.77 ERA and 0.60 WHIP in 26 games after being acquired from the Twins. He struck out 32 batters and walked just three in 23 1/3 innings.

“Coming into this clubhouse and seeing these guys every single day, you spend more time with them than you do your actual family,” Pressly said. “You better get along with them, and I get along with a lot of these guys. I’m really happy to be here and part of this winning organization. It was the right fit for me and my family.”

With Pressly and closer Roberto Osuna under contract through 2021, the Astros have one of baseball’s best back-end bullpen combinations locked in for the next three seasons.“This bullpen is pretty solid,” Pressly said. “I’m excited to be a part of this group, I’m excited to continue and work for a World Series and hopefully we get there this year.”

"I'm happy for him and happy for our organization. It's a great reward for him and how he's doing and how he came over and made a good impression, both in the game and how he goes about his business," Astros manager AJ Hinch said. "Very trustworthy guy and someone who we're going to lean on heavily in high-leverage innings."

The Astros are also expected to announce a contract extension with All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman by the end of the week. The deal, according to a source, will pay Bregman $100 million through 2024, buying out his first two years of free agency (2023-24), which will take him through his age-30 season.

Luhnow declined to discuss the Bregman deal on Wednesday, but it would be tied for the second largest in club history. Altuve signed a five-year extension worth $151 million a year ago, which also takes him through the 2024 season.

Still, the Astros have several big contract decisions looming, with starting pitchers Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, Collin McHugh and Wade Miley, relievers Hector Rondon, Will Harris and Joe Smith and starting catcher Robinson Chirinos all free agents after this season.

Meanwhile, the entire starting outfield -- Michael Brantley, George Springer and Josh Reddick -- will be free agents after the 2020 season, so keeping the team together will be challenging. The Astros have committed $75.15 million to five players in ’20; Altuve ($29 million), Reddick ($13 million), Brantley ($16 million), Yuli Gurriel ($8.4 million) and Pressly.

While Altuve and Bregman will be locked up through 2024, the team’s other two homegrown core players -- Springer and shortstop Carlos Correa -- could be the next extension candidates. Springer is making $12 million this year and will be arbitration-eligible in ’20, and Correa is making $5 million this year in his first year of arbitration and will be a free agent in ’22.

“We have a great young team and we have a chance to win multiple championships, so the more we keep the group together, that’s always been our stated objective,” Luhnow said. “There’s obviously limitations to that.”