WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 27: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros takes batting practice prior to the start of Game 5 of the 2019 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Sunday, October 27, 2019 i … (Photo by Adam Glanzman/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
HOUSTON - George Springer and the Houston Astros settled on a $21 million, one-year contract Thursday.
Springer had asked for $22.5 million in salary arbitration last week and the Astros offered $17.5 million, making the settlement $1 million over the midpoint. He made $12.15 million last year.
The 30-year-old outfielder set career highs last season, hitting 39 home runs with 96 RBIs while batting .292. He was an All-Star for the third straight season.
Springer led Houston to its first World Series title in 2017, hitting five homers in the seven-game win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He connected in the final four games of the matchup.
This week, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred released a report that detailed a cheating scheme by the Astros in the 2017 regular season and postseason to steal catchers' signals using video feeds and relay them to their hitters Houston manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were suspended by MLB and then fired by the team.
Alex Cora, the bench coach for Houston in 2017, was let go this week as Boston's manager. Carlos Beltran was the only player named in the MLB report -- hired last November to manage the New York Mets, he was let go Thursday.
Springer and the Astros lost last year's World Series to Washington in seven games. In 14 World Series games, he has hit .339 with seven home runs.
Springer can earn additional bonus money this year, including $200,000 for regular-season MVP, $175,000 for second, $150,000 for third, $125,000 and fourth and $100,000 for fifth. He would get $100,000 for World Series MVP and $75,000 each for an All-Star selection, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and League Championship Series MVP.