The Houston Astros declined to exercise their option on first baseman Jeff Bagwell for next season, the club announced Tuesday.Houston will instead pay the $7-million US buyout of the option in Bagwell’s contract.
Bagwell, 38, is Houston’s all-time leader in home runs (449), RBIs (1,529) and walks (1,401). In 15 major-league seasons with the Astros, he hit .297 while stealing 202 bases and scoring 1,517 runs in 2,150 games.