PHOENIX (AP) — Injured Houston designated hitter Evan Gattis and the Astros have avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a $3.4 million, one-year contract.
The deal was reached before a scheduled hearing Tuesday. It calls for a $3.3 million salary this year and includes a $5.2 million club option for 2017 with a $100,000 buyout.
When the sides exchanged proposed arbitration salaries last month, Gattis asked for a raise from $526,500 to $3.85 million and the Astros offered $3 million.
Gattis had surgery Feb. 10 to repair a sports hernia, and the Astros said then he would be sidelined four to six weeks.
Acquired from Atlanta in January 2015, Gattis hit .246 and led the Astros with 27 homers and 88 RBIs, both career highs.
Colorado second baseman DJ LeMahieu is the last player scheduled for a hearing. Players are 3-1, and Gattis’ agreement ensures players’ first winning record in arbitration since they went 2-1 in 2011.
Three pitchers won their hearings: Toronto’s Jesse Chavez ($4 million), Tampa Bay’s Drew Smyly ($3.75 million) and Cincinnati’s J.J. Hoover ($1.4 million). Astros catcher Jason Castro ($5 million) lost.