BREAKING NEWS!

Here's the latest we know on the details:

Photo Credit: KHOU-TV 11 Houston, TX

That's right, Evan! Smile big and tell us how it feels to be paid what you deserve?!



The Astros and your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis agree to a contract deal and avoid the arbitration hearing that was scheduled for this afternoon in Arizona.In 2016, El Oso Blanco will make $3.4 million. A very nice and healthy raise from the $620K he made last season. The club also gave him the option for 2017 for either a $100K buyout (which is highly unlikely, unless he really falters, which WILL NOT happen) or if kept on the Astros squad, will make $5.2 million the next season.For those that are keeping their own books on the matter, this means that Evan will be averaging $4.25 million over the next 2 seasons, and roughly $8.5 million overall. Quite frankly, I believe this to be a more than fair share of salary for a man who, let's recap:I have a couple of theories as to how and why the deal was made so close to the hearing. The first being that the club felt it had no case against Evan. I mean, how could they? Being that the Big White Bear led in all of the cumulative stats I listed above, how would anyone be able to argue against that? Even the best of lawyers that the team would have hired could not have presented enough of a viable case against him. No matter how hard they may have tried, they would have certainly come up short.The second theory being a slight sense of fear. Methinks the team might have gotten nervous that the recent hernia injury sustained by Evan may have gotten him some sympathy votes from the arbiters. While many critics would have thought this would have worked against the bear, I happen to think that the club had gotten nervous of a potential backfire of sorts. After all, Evan is one of their hardest workers, so they would have been most unfortunate in their attempts to low ball his salary.Whatever the real case may be, the fact is that this is a huge victory for Evan, the Astros ball club itself, and the fan bases for both the team and Evan everywhere. I'm so filled with excitement and overjoy that I can hardly contain myself! Finally, after waiting for so long, Evan will get the raise and respect that he has long since deserved in this game. And the haters can finally shut up, at least temporarily, as to what this means and whether or not he will live up to the amount of salary he's been awarded. Some media critics on certain networks, I won't name which, are already quick to label this move as detrimental.Let me save you the time, haters; HE MORE THAN WILL LIVE UP TO WHAT HE HAS EARNED!!!!In a related story (literally), I had a long form article published on FantasyPros.com about the potential DH fill ins while Evan is rehabbing from his surgery. You can read all about it by following the link here. All in all, this is a tremendous day to be an El Oso Blanco Fan! SO LET'S CELEBRATE!!!! :)