Now that the Houston Astros have finally made a big splash this offseason, they have not only added a new high-profile player but also taken on a significant contract to match. With established veterans, rising stars, and newly signed pitchers, it’s worth examining where Houston stands financially.
Looking at their estimated salary commitments, the big question is whether the Astros still have room to add another top-tier player before reaching the competitive balance (luxury) tax threshold they have historically tried to avoid.
Veterans and rising stars:
Yordan Álvarez: Age 28, Annual Salary approximately $26.8 million, Contract 6 years, $115 million, Signed through 2028
Jose Altuve: Age 35, Annual Salary approximately $30 million, Contract 5 years, $125 million, Signed through 2029
Tatsuya Imai: Age 27, Annual Salary $18 million, Contract 3 years, $54 million with incentives up to $63 million, Signed through 2027
Josh Hader: Age 31, Annual Salary approximately $19 million, Contract 5 years, $95 million, Signed through 2028
Lance McCullers Jr.: Age 32, Annual Salary approximately $17.7 million, Contract 5 years, $85 million, Signed through 2026
Cristian Javier: Age 28, Annual Salary approximately $21.4 million, Contract 5 years, $64 million, Signed through 2027
Jeremy Peña: Age 28, Annual Salary $4.1 million (2025 one-year arbitration deal), Team control through 2028 (projected ~$7.9 million for 2026 if settled through arbitration).
Hunter Brown: Age 27, Annual Salary $5.5 million (2026, first year of arbitration eligibility), projected arbitration salaries ~$9 million (2027) and ~$14 million (2028), Team control through 2029.
Nate Pearson: Age 29, Annual Salary $1.35 million (2026, plus performance bonuses), One-year deal, Signed through 2026.
Ryan Weiss: Age 29, Annual Salary $2.6 million (2026, guaranteed), One-year deal with 2027 club option, Signed through 2027.
Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, the competitive balance (luxury) tax threshold for the 2026 season is set at $244 million. Based on current estimates using average annual values across the 40-man roster, the Astros’ projected payroll for 2026 sits around $223 to $227 million.
That places Houston roughly $17 to $21 million below the luxury tax threshold, giving the front office some flexibility if they choose to add another contract. The question now is whether the Astros use that space to make another move or continue building around the roster they have already assembled.