Astros GM 'uncomfortable' handing out long-term deals

Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown is hoping to extend some of the club's homegrown stars but admits he has some hesitation about long-term contracts.

"I just don't like big deals," Brown said Wednesday, according to the Houston Chronicle's Chandler Rome. "If they're open for something a little more than five (years), maybe I would be open to doing that."

Brown said in February that he wanted to be aggressive in retaining some of the club's core players. The Astros were able to sign right-hander Cristian Javier to a five-year extension but have yet to find common ground with left-hander Framber Valdez or outfielder Kyle Tucker.

Under owner Jim Crane, the Astros have yet to sign a player to a contract for longer than six years. Brown knows that may be a challenge to keeping Tucker in the fold.

"I think Jim is willing to (go) further. I just don't know that I have the comfort of going as long as, say, maybe I'll have to to get Tucker done," Brown said.

Tucker and Valdez are both scheduled to hit free agency at the conclusion of the 2025 campaign.

Brown's philosophy as an executive has been to stay away from riskier long-term deals.

"I'm not comfortable doing 10 (years). I don't mind doing 10 if you get a guy to the big leagues in (their) early 20s, really feel like he's a big piece of the franchise, face of the franchise, and get him done for 10, and he finishes it out at 32-to-33," Brown said.

"I'm OK with that. These deals that go beyond 33, for me, I'm uncomfortable. The analytics on that is not good."

Tucker is coming off his first All-Star appearance in 2022. The 26-year-old belted 30 home runs with 107 RBIs and 25 stolen bases in 150 games last season.

Valdez emerged as Houston's most dependable starting pitcher during the club's run to the World Series last year. The 29-year-old went 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA and 33 strikeouts over his four postseason starts.

Brown is expecting some clarity on the likelihood of Tucker or Valdez signing an extension on Thursday. He added that he's a "little less optimistic" about reaching an agreement with either player by that time but said there's no firm deadline for a deal.