The Braves have set the standard for team-friendly, long-term deals. Plenty of well endowed clubs have been able to give high-profile free agents lucrative deals, but Atlanta has set the precedent in locking its core pieces up at potentially bargain rates before they hit the open market. And current Astros GM Dana Brown is doing the same in Houston.
The defending World Series champions announced they’d signed starter Christian Javier to a five-year deal with $64 million guaranteed, buying out three seasons of arbitration eligibility and two free agent years. It’s become a calling card of Alex Anthopoulos to buy out arb years — Austin Riley, Michael Harris II, Spencer Strider, etc.
We have signed RHP Cristian Javier to a five-year contract extension, Astros GM Dana Brown announced today. The deal will run through the 2027 season. pic.twitter.com/7b63quYIZW
— Houston Astros (@astros) February 10, 2023
“Cristian is an outstanding pitcher, so we are really excited about signing him to a long-term deal,” former Braves scout and current Astros GM Dana Brown said in the team’s press release. “We felt that he is the perfect candidate for this type of deal as a core piece of our rotation. This is in line with our vision to try to lock players up to sustain our success both now and in the future.”
He had a pretty good rookie season and has floated between the bullpen and rotation since 2020 but moved into a more permanent role as a starter in 2022. Last season, Javier threw 148.2 innings of 2.54 ERA ball, fanning 33.2% of opposing hitters. Over his career, he now owns a 3.05 ERA with a 30.9% strikeout percentage through 304.1 career innings in the regular season.
Christian Javier has also shown off in the postseason to the tune of a 2.20 ERA in 32.2 frames. He even started Game 4 of the World Series with the Astros down 2-1 in the series. He outdueled Phillies’ ace Aaron Nola with six innings of no-hit ball, including nine strikeouts. Houston’s bullpen took over and closed out the second no-hitter in MLB postseason history, which would inevitably lead to the Astros’ second World Series championship in six years.
He’s one of the best young starters in the league, and his swing-and-miss stuff can go toe to toe with anyone. Even if he can’t replicate the 2.54 ERA he posted last season, Javier has shown enough to be a capable starter in an elite rotation. And at this price point, consider it a bargain in today’s market.
This extension isn’t surprising, though. Dana Brown was hired for several reasons, but player retention was among the chief reasons. Just yesterday, the former Braves scout said he would be aggressive in signing the team’s younger players.
“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.”
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Photographer: Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sports
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