Astros in extension talks with 1 player, and it’s not Carlos Correa

The Houston Astros are working to extend Lance McCullers before Opening Day.

McCullers has been a productive member of the starting rotation for some time now, even dating back to the Astros’ World Series team back in 2017. Sign-stealing scandal or not, as much as the Astros would like to move on from the investigation that led to the subsequent firings of A.J. Hinch and Jeff Luhnow, it is good to have some championship experience on the roster.

McCullers is in the last year of his contract, and even tweeted as recently as last month that he had yet to hear from the Astros about an extension. Given Houston’s pitching woes heading into the season, keeping one of their more reliable starters healthy by Opening Day might be a good idea.

Lance McCullers is solid when healthy, but that’s been an issue

McCullers owns a 3.70 ERA, with a high strikeout rate and low walk percentage. Those are good enough numbers to warrant an extended stay in H-Town. However, he also suffered an elbow ligament injury which forced him to undergo Tommy John surgery, and miss all of the shortened 2020 season. So, his impact on the rotation come 2021 is still a bit of a question mark, despite his past production.

Houston has several other high-profile free agents come the 2021 offseason, including Carlos Correa, Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke. Correa is a player they’d prefer to keep around, as he’s one of the most recognizable shortstops in all of baseball and was raised in the organization. His asking price seems a little too high for Houston’s likely coming off a down year, however.

A solid season from Correa would put further claim in his price point, and provide more pressure for the Astros to pay up. For now, the possibility of re-signing McCullers is probably all the excitement Houston baseball fans can expect before Opening Day.