Smith played his 153rd major-league game on Thursday while still making the league minimum. Pursuing an extension with him seems obvious \u2014 and perhaps should\u2019ve started in earnest last spring, when Brown decided to carry Smith on Houston\u2019s Opening Day roster despite 32 games of professional experience.<\/p>\n
When they didn\u2019t, a window for the Astros to sign Smith on their own terms started to narrow. A brilliant beginning to Smith\u2019s sophomore season is threatening to close it and continue a common refrain throughout this golden era.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve definitely thought about (a contract extension),\u201d Smith said Thursday. \u201cBut, honestly, just showing up every day and continuing to help these guys win is at the top of my list. I can\u2019t say I\u2019ve had any talks about it, but just showing up every day and trying to win.\u201d<\/p>\n
Each productive plate appearance or prolific catch in right field increases Smith\u2019s value, perhaps to a price point outside of Houston\u2019s comfort zone. So do recent deals for McGonigle and Griffin, two players who are younger than Smith but with far less major-league experience.<\/p>\n
If McGonigle received $150 million after 17 major-league games, what may Smith merit after 153 games in which he\u2019s accrued 2.3 wins above replacement and been a Gold Glove finalist?<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2271663713-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n Kevin McGonigle became the latest rising young star to receive an early contract extension. (Gregory Shamus \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n
For an Astros franchise that has never guaranteed a player more than $151 million or, under owner Jim Crane, given a contract extension longer than six years, it is a sobering thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are players with 15 games making a lot of money, which is great for us players, but also when you get a player like Cam, a player like (Jeremy) Pe\u00f1a, they look at this and it waters their mouth a little bit,\u201d Correa said with a grin.<\/p>\n
Few players epitomize the Astros\u2019 plight more than Correa. Failing to extend him before the 2021 season put Houston in a place it isn\u2019t comfortable: bidding in free agency against franchises with a bigger appetite to spend.<\/p>\n
During Crane\u2019s ownership tenure, the Astros have never given a free-agent contract longer than five years or worth more than $95 million. Operating within these parameters only intensifies the need for early action, be it with pre-free agency contract extensions or a player development pipeline that produces enough prospects to replace players Crane chooses not to pay.<\/p>\n
Crane hired Brown, a longtime scout and talent evaluator, to address both issues. Braggadocio and bold ideas have defined Brown\u2019s tenure, which began with him telling Crane to \u201cfasten your seat belt, because it\u2019s time.\u201d At the time, Crane said he hired Brown as his general manager, in part, due to the Atlanta Braves\u2019 ability \u201cto extend some of their player contracts\u201d while Brown worked there.<\/p>\n