Astros avoid arbitration with Valdez, all 7 other eligible players

Astros avoid arbitration with Valdez, all 7 other eligible players

2:09 AM UTC

HOUSTON -- The Astros announced they had reached deals with all eight of their arbitration-eligible players Thursday, highlighted by All-Star left-hander agreeing to an $18 million contract for 2025, according to a source.

Valdez went 15-7 with a 2.91 ERA in 28 starts for the Astros last season, leading the team in wins and innings pitched (176 1/3). Valdez pitched as well as anyone in the second half of the season. He started throwing his curveball more and went 10-2 with a 2.19 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP in his final 16 starts, with the Astros going 14-2 in those games.

Thursday was the deadline for teams to exchange salary figures with their arbitration-eligible players, and by reaching deals with all of their players, the Astros will avoid going to a hearing this year.

Here are the other seven players who reached deals (the club has not confirmed financial details):

SS ($4.1 million)
Peña hit .266 with 15 homers, 28 doubles, 20 steals and 70 RBIs as the Astros’ starting shortstop last season. He posted a .701 OPS in 157 games played.

RHP ($3.45 million)
A setup man, Abreu appeared in 78 games last season and posted a 3.10 ERA in 78 1/3 innings, holding opponents to a .207 batting average and 1.16 WHIP with 11.83 strikeout per nine innings. He led the Major Leagues with 38 holds.

3B ($6.625 million)
Paredes, acquired from the Cubs in the Kyle Tucker trade last month, slashed .238/.346/.393 with 19 homers and 80 RBIs in 153 games last season with the Rays and Cubs and was an All-Star. He’s slated to take over for Alex Bregman at third base in 2025.

OF ($2.3 million)
Meyers hit .219 with 13 homers and 61 RBIs and posted a .646 OPS in 148 games last season while starting 126 games in center field. He had a .736 OPS in the first half of the season (.924 in May) before slumping in the second half with a .526 OPS. He was a Gold Glove finalist in center field in the American League.

OF ($3.4 million)
Coming off a career-best season in 2023, McCormick posted a .576 OPS in 94 games in '24, hitting .211 with five home runs. He’s slated to be the Astros’ starting right fielder in '25.

IF/OF ($5 million)
Dubón became the first player in franchise history to start at seven different positions -- all but catcher and pitcher -- in a single season, hitting .269 with four homers and 47 RBIs.

RHP ($1.875 million)
Garcia missed all last season after suffering a setback from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in May 2023 and will make the same amount as he did in ’24. Garcia made six starts before getting injured in ’23, a season after going 15-8 with a 3.72 ERA in ’22.