The Houston Astros are urged to offer veteran player a $14 million contract extension to keep him past the 2025 MLB season.
Houston Astros catcher Victor Caratini is in the final year of a two-year contract he signed in 2024. The 31-year-old is also improving on his production from last season, which begs the question: Should the Astros extend him?
Caratini has already topped his home run and RBI totals from last season, when he hit eight homers and drove in 30 runs. In 2025, the veteran catcher has 10 home runs and 32 RBI through 64 games, nearing the 87 games he played all of last year.
Still, is that production at the plate—combined with how he’s handled Houston’s pitching staff—enough to earn a new contract? For KPRC 2 Houston’s Ari Alexander, the answer is yes. On Friday, Alexander posted on X, calling on the Astros to keep the Puerto Rico native.
"The Astros should extend Victor Caratini," Alexander wrote. "All-around plus player."
The Astros should extend Victor Caratini.
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) July 12, 2025
All-around plus player.
He then followed it up by writing the figure that it could take to keep Caratini in Houston past this season.
"I don’t think he’s gonna be that expensive," Alexander added. "He’s a 32-year-old backup catcher who has played over 100 games once. He signed for [two years, $12 million] coming off a solid backup year at 30. [Two years, $14 million] or something probably gets it done."
I don’t think he’s gonna be that expensive.
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) July 12, 2025
He’s a 32 year old backup catcher who has played over 100 games once.
He signed for 2/12 coming off a solid backup year at 30.
2/14 or something probably gets it done.
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The Astros have the second half of the 2025 season to determine whether Caratini is worth the pay raise Alexander believes the catcher has earned. Caratini is a well-traveled player, having played for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, and Milwaukee Brewers before signing with Houston.
If he continues to produce at the plate and manage a pitching staff, he could test the market to see if there's a team willing to pay more than the predicted $14 million.
Category: Baseball
