One of the most pivotal players in Houston Astros history is now a lifer, according to the team. All-Star second baseman José Altuvehas 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."

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.