If you remember, the Rangers stunned the baseball world by trading their superstar and reigning AL MVP, Alex Rodriguez, to the Yankees in 2004. It was a move that handed New York the cornerstone of a championship run that culminated in a World Series title in 2009. The Rangers, meanwhile, were left to rebuild and reckon with what they’d lost. Well, the Astros appeared ready to walk a similar tightrope over a decade back, with the idea of parting ways with Jose Altuve.
History has shown that dealing away your MVP-caliber talent often comes at a steep price. But Houston, knowingly or not, was on the brink of paying it. Just a few months back, former Royals GM Dayton Moore shared how they were on the verge of getting Altuve from the Astros in exchange for then-Royals star Eric Hosmer. “I was sitting at the Starbucks coffee, and he said, I got a deal for you. I said, OK. He said, I’ll trade you Altuve for Eric Hosmer,” Moore said, referring to the former Astros GM Jeff Luhnow.
While the incident was from 2013, it sent a shockwave through the Astros community. Fans were left thinking, how could the team think of trading their cornerstone? Even more, did the conversation even take place for real?
Well, it did take place, and Luhnow has now confirmed it himself! In a recent edition of the podcast Crush City Territory, Luhnow opened up about what went on behind the scenes. “We did have a conversation about it,” he said. “It didn’t go very far. At the time, we weren’t looking to trade Jose Altuve. We were looking to acquire Eric Hosmer. Kansas City was on the rise, and we tried everything. It was not an official trade offer; it was one of those. ‘Hey, would you consider it?’ And it was a very short conversation, so it didn’t go anywhere.“
Aug 4, 2020; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Well, it was never a formal offer from the Astros. But just the idea of including Altuve as a possible trade piece could’ve changed everything for the franchise. For comparison, both Altuve and Eric Hosmer debuted in 2011 at 21 years of age. And while they got off to somewhat slow starts, their careers took different paths. Hosmer put together a solid 13-year run before retiring in 2023 with a 19.1 WAR. And Altuve? Well, he’s still going strong after 15 seasons and has already racked up a 53.2 WAR!
So, even though Luhnow’s offer wasn’t serious, if talks had really kicked off, the Astros could’ve lost out on one of the best players in franchise history. Yes, Hosmer did play a key role in the Royals’ 2015 World Series win. But compared to Altuve’s impact in Houston, it’s clear the Astros dodged a bullet.
Jose Altuve: The face of the Astros
Since the trade never took off, Altuve stayed back with the Astros, only to become the face of the franchise. “Jose at that time was not what Jose Altuve became now,“ Luhnow said, explaining why it would not have been a mistake to trade Altuve back in 2013. Well, that sounds right, because Altuve’s rise to stardom took time.
However, as it stands right now, Altuvo has been with the Astros since 2011, making him the longest-tenured player on the current roster. Moreover, he has racked up nine All-Star selections, more than any other player in franchise history. And he has been voted as the AL’s starting second baseman six times, a feat matched by only two others at his position.
Right now, Altuve is on a five-year, $125 million deal that will keep him in Houston through the 2029 season. While he’s currently 35, by the time that deal ends, he’ll be 39. With the way things are going, it’s looking more and more likely that Altuve will end up as one of those rare players who spend their entire career with one team.
This year, Altuve is one of the top-ranked players in the Astros’ offense again. Currently, he is leading the roster with 51 RBIs and is second to Isaac Paredes in terms of HR (16). There is no denying he has already gained legendary status in Houston.
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