Astros avoid arbitration with Keuchel, 4 others

HOUSTON -- The Astros agreed to terms with five arbitration-eligible players on Friday, including All-Star starting pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers Jr. The club also announced deals for 2018 with catcher/designated hitter Evan Gattis, outfielder Jake Marisnick and pitcher Brad Peacock.
World Series Most Valuable Player George Springer, closer Ken Giles and starter Collin McHugh didn't reach deals prior to Friday's deadline to exchange contract figures.
Keuchel, who will be a free agent after the '18 season, will make $13.2 million this year, according to FanRag Sports. The 2015 American League Cy Young winner made $9.15 million last year. Gattis will make a reported $6.7 million in his final year of arbitration, and Marisnick will make $1.9 million.
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Springer ($10.5 million) and the Astros ($8.5 million) are $2 million apart, Giles ($4.6 million) and the Astros ($4.2 million) are $400,00 apart and McHugh ($5 million) and the Astros ($4.55 million) are $450,000 apart. The Astros and the players can continue negotiating and, if they can't reach a deal, will have the player's 2018 salary determined via an arbitration hearing in the coming weeks.