The Houston Astros have been steadily building an exciting team for the 2026 MLB season. While their rotation is a group that's hoping for a breakout or two, the lineup is an incredible group of players.
No group is more impressive than the infield, and the leader of that position group isn't Carlos Correa, but postseason hero Jeremy Pena.
The Gold Glove All-Star shortstop got a big contract update before arbitration, as Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Pena has agreed to a $9.475 million contract with Houston.
Astros' Jeremy Pena agrees to $9.475M contract
"Source: the Astros and SS Jeremy Pena have settled for $9.475 million, avoiding arbitration," McTaggart reports.
The Astros' All-Star shortstop has agreed to a contract update that keeps him from arbitration. Pena, a righty slugging shortstop, is back on a deal below $10 million.
For a player as good as he is, getting above $10 million would not have been a surprise, even though he has the 2027 season as his final year of arbitration left.
But $9.475 million for Pena is a great deal for the Astros, as the 28-year-old shortstop is one of the best in the game.
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If it weren't for an unfortunate injury in the middle of the season, Pena might've been on his way to an MVP-caliber season. In 125 games, he put up 5.6 bWAR with 17 home runs, 30 doubles, a batting average of.302 with an OPS of.840 and an OPS+ of 132.
Pena is a big piece of the Astros' success going forward, and avoiding arbitration is some good news for Houston and Pena.
He's set to come back on a $9.475 million contract for the 2026 season, with his last year of arbitration set to be well above the $10 million threshold next offseason.
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