MLB Weekly Digest March 19th Edition

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The previous week in MLB was about a talented player signing an extension, a pitcher in the American League who will be sidelined for the entire season, and a club in the National League makes a long-term investment in an infielder.

Houston Astros Ink Jose Altuve to Five-Year Extension

The Houston Astros received contributions from many players on their roster in 2017, which helped them win the World Series.

The club has decided to reward one of those individuals with a massive contract extension. The Astros have signed second baseman Jose Altuve to a five-year, $151 million contract extension, per Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.

Altuve snd astros have agreement on five year $151M extension

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 16, 2018

The contract won’t start until the 2020 season as Altuve is already signed for the upcoming season and there’s a club option worth $6 million for the 2019 campaign, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.

Altuve captured his first MVP Award last season in the American League, by leading the league with 204 hits and posting a .346 batting average. He also scored 112 runs, crushed 24 home runs, accumulated 81 RBIs, swiped 24 bases and tallied a .957 OPS.

The infielder is one of the best players for the Astros, and it was a smart move for them to sign him long-term. Altuve has steadily improved his game over the past couple of years and has earned the extension.

Oakland Athletics Starting Pitcher Jharel Cotton Out for 2018 Due to Tommy John Surgery

The Oakland Athletics will be short one starting pitcher for the entire 2018 season as Jharel Cotton will need to undergo Tommy John surgery, per Jane Lee of MLB.com.

Cotton decided to that surgery was the best option after being diagnosed with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm this week.

This is a crushing blow for not only Cotton but the Athletics as well.

Cotton was on a path to be part of the starting rotation for the A’s when the season started. He had posted a 3.75 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 16 K’s in 12 innings across four outings this spring.

The substantial numbers were great to see as he struggled mightily last year, by compiling a 5.58 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and only 105 strikeouts in 129 innings (24 starts).

The loss of Cotton means the Athletics will have Daniel Mengden, Andrew Triggs, Paul Blackburn and Daniel Gossett battle for the three remaining starting rotation spots behind Kendall Graveman and Sean Manaea.

Cincinnati Reds Sign Third Baseman Eugenio Suarez to Seven-Year Contract Extension

The Cincinnati Reds have signed third baseman Eugenio Suarez to a seven-year contract extension worth $66 million, per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.

In case you missed it … the #reds signed 3B Eugenio Suarez to a seven-year, $66 million contract extension on Friday. https://t.co/11UMn5LMQb

— Mark Sheldon (@m_sheldon) March 16, 2018

The deal also includes a $15 million club option for the 2025 season. It was a logical move for the Reds to give Suarez this type of extension as he had a breakout campaign in 2017.

The third baseman had a .260 batting and .828 OPS with 87 runs scored, 26 home runs, 82 RBIs and 25 doubles. This was the second consecutive year in which he tallied 20 or more homers and 70-plus RBIs. Suarez is a significant part of the future for the Reds, and this extension ensures he’ll be with the team over the next several years.

About Post Author

Chris Lacey

Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.

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