Lance McCullers Jr. wants extension with Astros: 'I'm a legitimate big-league starter'

Lance McCullers Jr. has spent his entire career with the Houston Astros. He wants to keep it that way. 

The right-hander recently explained why it makes sense for the Astros to keep him around for the foreseeable future, according to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. 

"Big-league pitching — legitimate, starting, big-league pitching — does not grow on trees," McCullers said Sunday while discussing a potential extension. "And I'm a legitimate big-league starter, and I've worked really hard to get to this point."

The 27-year-old continued to say that the Astros have not yet had contract discussions with his agent, Scott Boras. McCullers is eligible for free agency in 2022 and told Boras that he wants to pursue an extension with the Astros "if they're interested in it." 

The Florida native went 3-3 during the pandemic-shortened campaign with a 3.93 ERA, 1.164 WHIP and 56 strikeouts in 55 innings. He missed the 2019 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. 

In five seasons with the Astros, McCullers is 32-25 with a 3.70 ERA and 1.262 WHIP. He helped lead Houston to a World Series title in 2017 and was named an All-Star that same year.