The final year of Yuli Gurriel's five-year contract, which runs through 2020, called for a player option that would allow the first baseman to either renegotiate his salary or opt out and go to arbitration.
Gurriel, a source confirmed on Monday, agreed to a new contract for 2020 worth $8.3 million, up from the original $8 million, with a chance to earn $250,000 more in bonuses. As was determined when he signed his original deal nearly four years ago, he will become a free agent after the 2020 campaing.
The 35-year-old Gurriel signed a five-year contract worth $47.5 million in July 2016, shortly after defecting from Cuba with his brother, Lourdes Jr., an outfielder with the Blue Jays.
After appearing in 36 games for Houston in '16, Gurriel took over full-time duties at first base in '17 while serving as one of many anchors in a loaded lineup that contributed to three straight American League West titles and a World Series championship two years ago.
Gurriel hit .298 and set career bests with 31 homers and 104 RBIs in 2019 as the Astros conquered the American League pennant for the second time in three seasons. He hit .310 with one homer and five RBIs in the team's seven-game World Series defeat to the Washington Nationals.
Gurriel has a .293 career average with 65 homers, 123 doubles and 279 RBIs in 455 games over parts of four seasons with the Astros.
While Gurriel takes another pay cut for the 2020 season, it gives more wiggle room to try to get under the luxury tax threshold. For a MLB baseball team, $400k savings is not a big deal, but we are talking about the Astros who like to save every penny possible. With a projected salary around $220 million without adding any other players, look for more salary dumping moves this offseason.
