(SportsRadio 610) - Michael Brantley is returning to the Astros for a fifth season on a one-year, $12 million contract.
An Astros fan favorite, "Uncle Mike," as he’s been dubbed since joining the ball club in 2019, can earn $4 million more in incentives this season.
Brantley, 35, had his 2022 campaign cut short due to a shoulder injury. Playing his last game in late June, Brantley tried to rest and rehab the shoulder but didn’t see enough improvement and underwent an arthroscopic labrum repair in August.
Prior to the injury, Brantley slashed a very solid .288/.370/.416 with 14 doubles, five home runs and a .785 OPS in 64 games last season.
He continued to play an integral role for the Astros last season, routinely offering advice to hitters, listening to their concerns and being another baseball mind to bounce things off of during their championship run.
Not known for being a very vocal guy, Brantley saw a hole in which he needed to fill during the World Series this year.
Falling behind 2-1 in the series after a 7-0 loss to the Phillies in game three, Brantley knew his teammates were better than what they showed at the plate to that point and stepped up and said something.
He gave an impassioned speech ahead of game four, and the message was so strong and stern, it made its way to the pitchers on the team.
Cristian Javier and three relievers combined to no-hit the Phillies that night, and didn’t lose another game on the series, capturing Houston's second title in six seasons.
There’s no telling yet just how much of a factor Brantley’s return this season could have on the ball club.
But Jim Crane knows that he is a factor.
He understands the value Brantley brings away from the plate and field, and continues to make the right moves this off-season without a general manger in house.
Crane has shown he has a pretty good pulse of the team. Bringing Yuli Gurriel back to fill a need as a utility player off the bench would be another simple but necessary move.
Shaun Bijani has spent the last 16 years covering the Houston sports scene for SportsRadio 610. Follow him on Twitter @ShaunBijani.
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