Astros in Danger of Losing All-Star Jeremy Pena After $100 Million Contract Talks Stall originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena is having a resurgent season that has taken the entire baseball world by storm, and also putting him in line for a hefty contract extension when he becomes a free agent in 2027.
For Astros fans who hoped to see Pena in an Astros uniform for life, the news that Pena was in the midst of extension talks with his lifelong team,, despite being a few years from free agency, was a relief.
However, all of that optimism was zapped by the news that Pena switched agencies and will now be represented by Scott Boras, baseball’s most lucrative agent.
Now, further details have emerged that Pena, likely in conjunction with the hiring of Boras, chose to put those contract talks on hold.
The Astros were looking to lock down Pena for a large bargain, with MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reporting that the two sides were discussing a contract in the range of $100 million.
Pena, who was viewed by many as the long-term solution to the loss of Carlos Correa in free agency, is second in the MLB with a 4.6 WAR, trailing only Aaron Judge.
Pena’s .326 batting average is 60 points higher than his career high, set last year, and his 145 OPS+ is 43 points higher than his career high, set in his strong 2022 rookie season.
The Astros even failed to heed veteran Jose Altuve’s warning in April, as Altuve told reporters that extending Pena should have been a top priority.
“He’s going to become a superstar,” Altuve said in April. “He’s a very valuable player for us. I’m very surprised (they haven’t) signed him to a long-term deal with the Astros.”
Now that Pena is being represented by Boras, one can imagine his price will skyrocket, especially if he continues performing at this high of a level.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.