THIS DAY IN BÉISBOL November 24: Carlos Lee is highest-paid Astro after 2006 $100M deal

Slugger Carlos Lee became the highest paid player in Astros history when he signed a six-year, $100 million deal on this day in béisbol, November 24, 2006.

Lee, an outfielder-first baseman, spent his first five years with the White Sox, where he averaged more than 25 home runs a year. The Panama native remained a consistent middle-of-the-order force over his five-and-a-half seasons with Houston, averaging 25 homers and 100 RBI. He retired after spending the 2012 season with the Miami Marlins with 358 career dingers and 1,363 RBI.

Also on this day: Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols won the 2009 National League MVP Award, the second in a row and the third of a Cooperstown-bound career. He also won it in 2005.

SBoyd, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; LatinoBaseball.com illustration