For Astros fans already frustrated by watching homegrown stars walk away, the handling of Hunter Brown continues to feel like a slow-moving disaster.
Sep 20, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (58) walks in the dugout before the game against the Seattle Mariners at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Before the 2024 season, Brown was open to a long-term extension, but Houston dismissed the idea, believing it was simply too early.
That decision quietly changed everything, because once Brown proved himself, the leverage no longer belonged to the Astros.
By the time Houston reconsidered, Brown had hired Scott Boras, and his future price tag began climbing rapidly.
Extension odds dropped immediately, and recent events have only made that outcome feel more inevitable.
Tarik Skubal’s arbitration hearing on Thursday may have delivered the loudest warning yet for Houston’s front office.
Skubal entered arbitration aiming to reset expectations, filing for a staggering $32 million against Detroit’s $19 million offer.
The gap was enormous, making the case risky, controversial, and impossible to ignore across the league.
When the ruling favored Skubal, it sent shockwaves far beyond Detroit’s payroll projections.
The decision validated an aggressive approach and strengthened the position of other elite pitchers approaching free agency.
Hunter Brown, also represented by Boras, now finds himself standing on newly reinforced ground.
Although Brown’s free agency will not arrive until after the 2028 season, the precedent has already been set.
Skubal’s win relied on a “special accomplishments” provision, allowing comparisons beyond standard arbitration benchmarks.
That pathway could soon be available to Brown if he continues producing Cy Young-caliber seasons.
Another strong award finish would dramatically strengthen his arbitration case and long-term contract demands.
For the Astros, this only sharpens the pain of their earlier hesitation.
What once could have been a team-friendly extension now looks like a missed opportunity of massive proportions.
Instead of securing an ace at a manageable cost, Houston appears headed toward another expensive standoff.
The market is changing, player leverage is growing, and the Astros are watching it happen in real time.
What once felt like caution now looks increasingly like regret, and the bill may still be coming due.
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