tuve forever

Houston Astros make José Altuve 'Astro for life' with historic extension

José Altuve has agreed to a five-year extension, which will make him a lifer, per the Astros.

Photo via Houston Astros

One of the most pivotal players in Houston Astros history is now a lifer, according to the team. All-Star second baseman José Altuve has agreed to a a five-year contract extension with the Astros, general manager Dana Brown announced on Tuesday, February 6.

Officially, the Astros didn't release terms of the deal, which will cover seasons 2025-29 in their press announcement. However, multiple Major League Baseball beat writers report the extension is $125 million over five years. As Sports Illustrated notes, this historic deal will make Altuve the first MLB second baseman to make $300 million in a career.

As hand-wringing fans are aware, Altuve was in the final year of a seven-year contract extension that he signed on March 19, 2018, as of 2024. This extension, the team declared on X, will make the 33-year-old Altuve essentially an "Astro for life."

Jose Altuve will be an Astro for life. pic.twitter.com/ndPHz1lP7E
— Houston Astros (@astros) February 6, 2024

And why not? By the numbers, Altuve ranks first in Astros career batting average (.307), third in hits (2,047), doubles (400), runs (1,062) and stolen bases (293), fourth in OPS (.834) and fifth in home runs (209), per team stats. The perennial powerhouse slugger has been charted one of the best postseason runs in MLB history. By MLB stats, Altuve ranks second in postseason home runs (27) and runs (89), and is currently tied for third in hits (117).

He is virtually peerless among MLB second basemen, ranking first in virtually all offensive categories in postseason history.

Forever clutch, Altuve boasts two go-ahead, 9th-inning home runs in the 9th inning of an ALCS game and a three-home run game in the 2017 ALDS, which ties an MLB record.

Having recorded his 2,000th career hit in 2023, Altuve has rq=acked up 2,047 hits, 400 doubles, 209 home runs, and 293 stolen bases. (Seven more stolen bases will tally 300, which will make Altuve just the fifth player in MLB history to reach all four milestones while maintaining a .300-or-higher career average, per team stats.)

With a mantle full of accolades, Altuve currently boasts: 2017 American League MVP; the 2017 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year (with fellow Houstonian at the time J.J. Watt); 2017 AL Hank Aaron Award; 2017 AP Male Athlete of the Year; 2017 Baseball America Player of the Year; eight All-Star selections; three American League batting titles; six Silver Slugger Awards (the most in franchise history); a Gold Glove Award, and 2019 ALCS MVP honors.

Perhaps his most storybook stat? Altuve is the first Astros player to hit an inside the park home run for his first Major League home run, which he blasted on August 20, 2011 vs. the San Francisco Giants.

The Astros will host a press conference officially announcing the extension at 10 am Wednesday, February 7.

This is a breaking news story.

hockey news

NHL taps Houston billionaire to launch new Texas hockey franchise

Photo by Morris Molina

Houston has been without a pro hockey team since the Aeros folded.

Hockey fans in either Houston or Austin may have a new opportunity to root for the home team. The NHL has committed to adding a 33rd team in the Lone Star State, according to multiple media reports.

As part of those plans, the NHL has reached an agreement with Pursuit Sports, an arm of the Houston-based Friedkin family. Per the agreement, the NHL has granted The Friedkin Family, led by Houston billionaire Dan Friedkin, the exclusive rights to own the future franchise. Pursuit Sports, the family’s company that owns three European soccer franchises, will evaluate both Houston and Austin as potential homes for the team.

The family issued the following statement about the NHL’s decision. It reads in part:

Each city brings unique attributes that would make a new team a huge success — both have the infrastructure, passionate fan bases, and economic strength needed to support a championship-caliber franchise for years to come.

We have wanted for some time to bring an NHL team to Texas, and we are excited that the process has now begun. Selecting a new market for an NHL franchise is a special and important responsibility, and we are grateful to the league for their faith in us and their support. Working with Commissioner Bettman and the NHL, we will undertake a principled, disciplined, and methodical process to ensure we find the right long-term home for this new franchise.

Houston has been without a professional hockey team since the Houston Aeros folded in 2013.

With a net worth of $11.4 billion, Dan Friedkin ranks No. 279 on the 2026 edition of the Forbes World’s Billionaires List. That’s good for Houston’s third richest resident, behind only Kinder Morgan chairman Richard Kinder (No. 232, $13 billion) and Landry’s owner Tilman Fertitta (No. 268, $11.7 billion).

His wealth primarily stems from his ownership of Gulf States Toyota, which has the exclusive rights to sell Toyota vehicles in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. The company sold more than $13 billion worth of Toyotas in 2025 alone, Forbes reports.

The Friedkin family launched Pursuit Sports last summer. It currently owns three European soccer clubs — A.S. Roma (Italian Serie A), A.S. Cannes (French Championnat National 2), and Everton F.C. (English Premier League).