The Astros have reached a one-year agreement with Hunter Brown, agreeing to a $5.71 million salary for 2026 and avoiding arbitration. The deal was made official on arbitration deadline day.
Arbitration-eligible players have at least three, but fewer than six, years of Major League service time and are still under team control.
The deadline is as much about money as it is about maintaining good relationships between the team and its players. Avoiding arbitration hearings helps keep everyone focused on baseball instead of negotiations.
For pitchers like Brown, avoiding arbitration can be particularly important. By settling early, both the Astros and Brown can focus fully on the season ahead.
For Brown, that means concentrating on building his arm, refining his pitches, and managing his workload in spring training without the uncertainty or stress of a potential arbitration hearing hanging over him.
Brown had a breakout season in 2025. In 31 appearances, he went 12-9 with a 2.43 ERA and struck out 206 batters over 185.1 innings, averaging just under six innings per start. He also posted 21 quality starts and finished third in American League Cy Young voting. He ended the season with a 1.03 WHIP and showed remarkable consistency, per MLB.
It is also worth noting that during those 31 games, Yainer Díaz was often behind the plate, and the two showed potential to develop a strong battery. Their growing chemistry gives the Astros confidence that Brown could step into a more prominent role, and the team is likely to lean on that pairing as a foundation for 2026.
Brown throws right-handed and relies on a power pitching approach. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and can reach 99 mph, while his slider is particularly effective against right-handed hitters. He also mixes in a changeup and occasional curveball to keep hitters off balance.
With Framber Valdez likely signing elsewhere, Brown’s role in the rotation becomes even more important. He’s shown he can handle a full workload, give the team quality innings consistently, and has the ability to strike out hitters, making him a natural anchor.
Reaching a deal lets Brown focus purely on his game. With Valdez likely to be gone, it’s crucial that Houston’s new anchor stays sharp and locked in.
Hunter Brown is going to be an exciting arm to watch in the 2026 season.