By BRIAN MCTAGGART
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Jeff Bagwell’s playing career with the Astros effectively came to an end Tuesday when the Astros, as expected, announced they were declining their option on his contract for the 2007 season. The Astros will instead pay Bagwell a $7 million buyout.
Bagwell, the franchise’s career leader in homers and RBIs, missed all of this season with a deteriorating right shoulder. He played for the Astros for 15 seasons and was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1991 and the NL Most Valuable Player in 1994.

Barry Axelrod, Bagwell's longtime agent, said Tuesday that Bagwell has no plans to announce his retirement yet and would like to explore staying involved with the organization in some form.

"It certainly makes sense, because he plans to stay in Houston," Axelrod said of Bagwell, who is guaranteed his buyout even if he decides to retire.

"Jeff is simply one of the best players and individuals to ever wear the uniform of the Astros or any other Major League team," Astros owner Drayton McLane said. "He is a true icon of our franchise and a tremendous ambassador for the game of baseball. Jeff certainly has cemented his place among the greatest to ever play the game."

Bagwell, 38, hit .297 with 449 home runs and 1,529 RBIs in 2,150 games during his Astros career. He had 488 doubles and 32 triples in his career while stealing 202 bases and scoring 1,517 runs.

A four-time All-Star, Bagwell is one of only 10 players all-time with more than 400 home runs and 200 stolen bases and the only first baseman. Additionally, he is also one of only six first basemen all-time with 1,500 runs batted in and runs scored.

Bagwell earned three NL Silver Slugger Awards at first base (1994, 1997, 1999) and a Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 1994 for the Astros. He collected 30 homers, 100 RBIs, and 100 runs scored in six consecutive seasons from 1996-2001, joining Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, and Babe Ruth as the only players all-time to accomplish that feat.