HEADLINE

Astros extend qualifying offer to OF Springer

Field Level Media

November 02, 2020 at 1:26 am.

The Houston Astros announced Sunday they have extended an $18.9 million qualifying offer to outfielder George Springer.

Springer has until Nov. 11 to accept the offer or decline it and become a free agent.

The Astros will receive a compensatory draft pick if Springer turns down the qualifying offer and signs with another team.

Springer, a three-time All-Star, would be one of the top offensive performers available in free agency.

The 31-year-old Springer batted .265 with 14 homers and 32 RBIs in 51 games in 2020. He added four homers and 10 RBIs in 13 postseason games.

Springer holds the franchise record with 19 postseason homers.

Springer has a .270 batting average with 174 homers and 458 RBIs in 795 games over seven seasons with the Astros.

Houston also exercised a $2 million option on left-handed reliever Brooks Raley. The 32-year-old was 0-1 with a 4.95 ERA and one save in 21 regular-season games before being valuable in the playoffs with a 3.18 ERA and nine strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings in six appearances.

Also, the Astros declined to extend a qualifying offer to Michael Brantley, making the 33-year-old outfielder a free agent.

Brantley batted .300 with five homers and 22 RBIs in 46 games in 2020. The four-time All-Star has a .297 average with 114 homers and 640 RBIs in 1,245 career games with the Cleveland Indians (2009-18) and Astros.