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Ex-GM: Astros balked on long deals for Pena & Brown
2 Sep
Summary
- Former GM confirms Astros avoided long-term contracts.
- Pena and Brown hired agent Scott Boras after talks failed.
- Astros lead AL West by two games entering September.
Former Houston Astros General Manager Dana Brown confirmed on Tuesday, September 2, 2026, that contract extension negotiations for Jeremy Pena and Hunter Brown occurred before his exit from the front office on August 24, 2026. Brown indicated that owner Jim Crane's aversion to long-term commitments hindered these discussions.
During Brown's tenure, the Astros did sign Cristian Javier to a five-year, $64 million deal in 2023 and Jose Altuve to a five-year, $125 million contract in 2024. However, other notable players like Kyle Tucker were traded in December 2024, and Alex Bregman and Framber Valdez departed in free agency.
Pena, the 2022 World Series MVP, and Hunter Brown, an All-Star and Cy Young candidate in 2025, remain under team control through 2027 and 2028, respectively. Both players subsequently hired agent Scott Boras after initial extension talks with the Astros failed to reach an agreement.
The Astros currently hold a two-game lead in the AL West as the 2026 MLB season enters its final month. Pena and Hunter Brown's long-term futures with the team remain unresolved.
