Astros officially announce Yordan Alvarez's extension after slugger launches 4 HRs in 6 games

The designated hitter's four home runs during the Astros' latest road trip combined to measure about one-third of a mile.

Monday, June 6, 2022
Astros' Alvarez, who turns 25 this month, gets $115M birthday gift
Houston Astros have reached a deal with designated hitter Yordan Alvarez on a six-year, $115 million contract extension, ESPN's Jeff Passan reports.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Ever since Yordan Alvarez's contract extension was reported last Friday, all the Astros' slugger has done is crush baseballs.

General Manager James Click and Alvarez were front and center for a news conference Monday to announce the designated hitter's six-year deal. During the same event, the club revealed that Alvarez was also named American League Player of the Week.

Alvarez and the 'Stros returned home after going 6-3 during a nine-game road trip. A handful of those games best displayed the power and hitting consistency that the Astros are reportedly willing to invest $115 million on.

The video above is from a previous report.

In a six-game span during the road trip, No. 44 crushed four home runs, measuring 426, 444, 456, and a career-high 469 feet. All combined, Alvarez managed to launch one-third of a mile's worth of long balls.

Alvarez also flirted with hitting the Astros' first cycle since 2013. He was a double shy of the single-game accomplishment during Houston's win over Kansas City on Sunday.

The Cuba native, who turns 25 on June 27, is earning $764,600 this current season, which is actually a raise from the $609,000 he earned last season.

In an Associated Press report, his new deal calls for a $5 million signing bonus payable with 30 days of the contract's approval by Major League Baseball and salaries of $7 million next year, $10 million in 2024 and $15 million in 2025, covering his three years of arbitration eligibility.

Álvarez receives $26 million annually from 2026-28, when he would have been eligible for free agency.

His salary can escalate from 2024-27 based on finish in MVP voting $1.5 million for first, $750,000 for second and $750,000 for third. The increase would apply to all subsequent seasons.

For 2027 and '28, Álvarez gets a limited no-trade provision allowing him to list 10 teams he cannot be dealt to without his consent.

Alvarez's 16 homers puts him in a tie for second-most in the Majors and second-most in the American League.

And to remind Astros fans how the team got here with someone who will be a sure-fire All-Star selection this season, Houston acquired the then-unknown Alvarez in a 2015 trade with the Dodgers, shipping out relief pitcher Josh Fields, who is currently out of baseball.

ESPN and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

For more sports news, follow Adam Winkler on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.