The Houston Astros are seeking to sign 2022 World Series MVP Jeremy Pena to a long-term extension, but negotiations have recently taken a back seat.
The 27-year-old shortstop is having his best season and appears headed for his first All-Star selection. Through 82 games, he’s hitting .322/.378/.489 with 11 home runs, 18 doubles, 48 runs scored, and 40 RBI with a 143 OPS+ and 4.5 bWAR.
Pena remains under team control through 2027, but the Astros want to lock him up long-term as a franchise cornerstone. The move comes after trading Kyle Tucker and letting Alex Bregman walk in free agency over the offseason.
According to USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale, the Astros were optimistic about reaching a five-year, $100 million deal with Pena a few weeks ago. That optimism has since evaporated.
“The optimism was abruptly halted when he left the Beverly Hills Sports Council for Scott Boras, who will be seeking a much more lucrative deal to keep him from hitting free agency after the 2027 season,” Nightengale reports.
Boras typically wants high-profile clients to reach free agency to maximize their value, though he has negotiated in-season extensions before, including with San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman last year.
The contract talks unfold as the Astros lead the American League West by 6.5 games over the Seattle Mariners.
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