Astros agree to extension with young pitcher Javier

*Photo from Reuters*

   A young star is getting his payment. The Houston Astros have agreed to a 5 year, $64 million contract extension with RHP Cristian Javier, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The deal has been confirmed by the team.

   Javier's extension also includes a $2 million signing bonuses, with incentives also available based on Cy Young voting results. The contract is also backloaded, with Javier earning $42 million of his deal in the final two years, the 2026 and 2027 seasons. The deal covers his first two years of free agency eligibility along with all of his arbitration eligible seasons.

   Last season, as has been the case throughout his major league career, Javier bounced between the rotation and bullpen. He ended the season with a 2.54 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 3.16 FIP, making 25 starts and 5 relief appearances while throwing 148 2/3 innings, including a combined no hitter in June.

   Astros GM Dana Brown said of Javier in a statement that "Cristian is an outstanding pitcher, so we are really excited about signing him to a long-term deal. As a core piece of our rotation, we felt that he is the perfect candidate for this type of deal. This is in line with our vision to try to lock players up to sustain our success both now and in the future."

   Last season, Javier started the season in the bullpen, but then took a rotation spot when the Astros shifted to a 6 man rotation. He struck out 11.74 hitters per 9 innings while limiting opposing hitters to a .170 average after shifting to the rotation.

   Once the postseason arrived, Javier stepped up his game even more. He had a 0.71 ERA in 3 appearances, allowing just two hits while striking out 16 hitters in 12 2/3 innings. He threw the first 6 innings of a combined no hitter in game 4 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

   Javier has been in the majors for 3 seasons, all with the Astros. In that time, the soon to be 26 year old has compiled a 3.05 ERA, 3.90 FIP, and 1.04 WHIP, throwing 304 1/3 innings over 44 starts and 34 relief appearances. Javier has a 2.20 ERA and 0.92 WHIP over two starts and 12 relief appearances in the postseason, totaling 32 2/3 innings.

   By extending Javier, the Astros keep their core intact in the most recent in a line of extensions. Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman, and Lance McCullers Jr recently signed extensions, although those were under different front office regimes.

   The move to extend Javier is the latest move by the Astros and the first big move by their new GM. They've previously re-signed reliever Rafael Montero and signed first baseman Jose Abreu to a 3 year deal.