Why Jose Altuve's final 3 years with Astros could be 'ugly'

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Why Jose Altuve's final 3 years with Astros could be 'ugly' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Houston Astros made a quick exit from the Wild Card Series, falling to the Chicago White Sox in the first two games. 

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The Astros are no longer the American League juggernaut and a shoo-in to make the ALCS. 

The same could be said about Jose Altuve, who is no longer one of the top players in baseball. 

Altuve's offensive production continues to slip as he ages. That's not uncommon, even for World Series heroes and multiple-time All-Stars. 

"With that said, the former AL MVP isn't nearly the player he used to be. In his age-36 season, Altuve hit just .250, far below his .300 career batting average," Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly wrote. "And for the first time since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Altuve finished with an OPS+ below 100 (which is considered league average), posting a 97 in 2026." 

Moving forward, Altuve's defense at second base should also be a concern for the Astros. 

The 36-year-old has -17 defensive runs saved at second base this season, making him one of the least valuable defenders in the sport. 

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"Altuve has a resume deserving of induction into the Hall of Fame, but the final three seasons of a five-year, $125 million deal could be ugly," Kelly added. 

The Astros would likely prefer to use Altuve as their DH, but that spot is currently occupied by Yordan Alvarez. 

Houston's roster construction will be tricky this offseason, but they also have to figure out what to do with Altuve in the not-so-distant future. 

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