(SportsRadio 610) -- Astros pitcher Lance McCulllers Jr. has no problem talking about his uncertain future with the team.
The 27-year-old starter could become an unrestricted free agent after this season if the Astros don’t sign him to a long term deal.
McCullers spoke candidly about his contract situation over the weekend. He views himself, rightfully so, as a legitimate big league starter who would do well in free agency if it happens.
Like his teammate Carlos Correa, who could also become a free agent after 2021, McCullers would like an extension before the season begins.
McCullers will play for $6.5 million after reaching a deal with the Astros in January to avoid salary arbitration.
“It would be nice to get something done, just so we don’t have to worry about it, because when the season starts you have to worry about winning games,” McCullers said Sunday. “You have to worry about recovering. You don’t have that time to talk to your agent, or talk to your family about these type of decisions. It becomes more of a distraction more than anything.
“They know if they want me here and if they do, then we can get something done. And if not, I understand. It’s a business at the end of the day and the Astros have to deal with what they think is best. Big league pitching, like legitimate starting big league pitching, does not grow on trees. And I am a legitimate big league starter.”
While it’s clear McCullers deserves a long term contract, whether with the Astros or another team, the price is worth considering.
And not just the dollar amount, but the cost-benefit analysis of paying McCullers if there is a cheaper, adequate replacement available.
The Astros have talented, yet mostly unproven pitchers behind McCullers who could emerge as cheaper options for the team if performance this season is comparable.
Astros general manager James Click might want to learn more about the young pitchers before committing to McCullers past this season.
Or, at the very least, use this season to clarify McCullers’ precise value.
At 27, McCullers is a little more than two years removed from Tommy John surgery. His first season back was cut short by the pandemic.
Last season, McCullers posted a 3.93 ERA in 55 innings pitched.
“I’ve seen a lot of guys go through this process,” McCullers said. “A lot of my other teammates play it close to the vest because guys are afraid to say the wrong thing. I’ve always been pretty open with (fans and media). And so I’m not afraid to say I want an extension, because it comes from a place of wanting to be here. It comes from a place of wanting to continue to share seasons with my teammates, wanting to help build the legacy of the Astros.
“So, it would be nice to have something done. I mean, these things can come together quickly. We’re not creating a new COVID-19 vaccine. This is something that can come together, materialize pretty quick if the Astros see me as someone they want to keep.”
McCullers is a fan favorite. He’s a really good pitcher with an engaging personality. And of course, he is a significant part of the Astros’ legacy.
Seeing McCullers go, with the possibility of losing Correa if the Astros don’t sign him to a long term deal, a year after George Springer leaves for Toronto, would hurt the fan base.
But a fair price for McCullers, who was an All-Star in 2017 when the Astros won the World Series, is yet to be determined.
“Houston is where I want to be,” he said. “This is my home. This is where I see myself. So I would undoubtedly want to be here well into the future. I think the real question would be, do the Astros see me here. Do the Astros see me as part of their future? Because if the Astros see me as a big part of their future, I would love to stay here if it makes sense for everyone.”
McCullers is represented by Scott Boras, the agent who also negotiated Jose Altuve's five-year, $156 million extension in 2018, and former Astros pitcher Gerrit Cole to the New York Yankees for $324 million over nine years.
Boras also represents Alex Bregman, though Bregman hired him last year after signing his six-year, $100 million extension in 2019.