It is likely that by now there is none most punished opening rotation than that of the Houston Astros, Those who last year suffered the injury of Justin Verlander (Tommy John) and the departure of Gerrit Cole, who signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees; it’s another way, they ran out of their two ‘aces’.
As if that were not enough, a few weeks ago Framber Valdez, another of its openers, hit them with a fright after fracturing his left ring finger trying to file a blow from the Mets outfield, Francisco Lindor. In response to another possible layoff for the entire season, the board stepped on the accelerator and reached an agreement with the coveted opener Jake Odorizzi.
The good news for the Stars is that they have resolved one of their priority concerns: extend the contract of the 27-year-old right-hander, Lance McCullers. As reported by Mark Berman of Fox 26, Texan management and McCullers Jr. they have reached an agreement so that this one remains in the club others five more years in exchange for US $ 85 million; that is, counting the approaching season, it would be six years in total that he will have left to play in Houston.
At the end of the 2021 season, the Stars will have to face another problem, Justin Verlander will become a free agent, so it is not clear whether the veteran ‘es’ will also receive an extension offer from the Stars, or well, they resign themselves to what they already have or go for another arm in the dead season.
Lance McCullers Jr. is shaping up to be part of manager Dusty Baker’s opening rotation for 2021, which includes veteran Zack Greinke, Jake Odorizzi, Mexican Jose Urquidy and Dominicans Cristian Javier and Framber Valdez, noting that the latter he was not recommended to undergo surgery after his injury but could start the campaign a little late.