Astros 'optimistic' about reaching an extension with Kyle Tucker

While speaking on a radio broadcast, Houston Astros GM Dana Brown provided an update on his efforts to extend members of the team's core. Brown said that the club is in extension negotiations with Kyle Tucker's agent, relaying that Houston is "optimistic" about securing an extension with the 26-year-old outfielder while also acknowledging that any contract discussions would likely be tabled if matters do not fall into place by Opening Day.

Brown has been unusually candid publicly about his efforts to extend several members of the Astros core, having made public comments regarding a desire to extend not only Tucker and Framber Valdez but also Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Cristian Javier. Of that group, only Javier has inked an extension thus far, though Altuve and Bregman are both under club control for the next two seasons. Tucker and Valdez are not set to hit free agency until the 2025-26 offseason.

Brown’s front office will certainly have the financial resources to get extensions done, as the club’s payroll situation leaves Houston plenty of room to maneuver. RosterResource pegs the club’s 2024 luxury tax commitments at just under $159.5MM. That figure does not include salaries for Houston's arbitration-eligible players, but a significant raise on the $23.2MM the Astros spent in arbitration this year would leave them with room under their expected 2023 payroll, which stands at just under $218MM for luxury tax purposes.

More from around the American League…

• Sticking  with the Astros, Brown relayed that Michael Brantley continues to work his way back from the summer shoulder surgery that ended his 20222. While the expectation to this point had been that the veteran outfielder would be ready for Opening Day, that expectation was softened by degrees, with Brown relaying that Brantley will be ready “a week into the season at the worst.” If Brantley does miss regular season time, Jake Meyers, Mauricio Dubon, and David Hensley are among those who could benefit.
  
  
• Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters that reliever Tommy Kahnle is on the third day of a 10-day shutdown from throwing due to biceps tendinitis. Tendinitis is the only arm issue Kahnle is dealing with at this juncture and he is expected to be ready for Opening Day. On the field, Kahnle has found success when healthy, posting a solid 3.58 ERA (123 ERA+) and excellent 2.93 FIP in 161 innings since the start of the 2017 season. That said, “when healthy” is the operative phrase there, as Kahnle has struggled with injuries in recent years, pitching just 13.2 innings combined over the last three seasons. Fortunately, Kahnle’s current injury seems to be a fairly minor one.
  
  
• Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that outfielder Wilyer Abreu is expected to “be out for a while” after sustaining a left hamstring strain. Abreu wasn't a likely candidate for the Opening Day roster, anyway,  given that he has yet to play above the Double-A level in his professional career. As a player on the 40-man roster, it’s at least theoretically possible he could reach the majors at some point this season after he manages to return to the field.