What was the discount? Who offered him more money? Also, were Oswalt's and Berkman's extentions below market value (when the signed it)? Was Billy Wagner's contract making him underpaid for a guy who only throws one inning?
The only player recently who's taken a hometown discount was Clemens his first year. Bagwell, Biggio, Kent, Pettitte, Lee, Berkman etc were all paid market value.
See the well-stated replies above. No, don't let the media fool you. And, while Carlos recently purchased a ranch somewhere in south Texas, Houston is a far cry from home. Dude is from Panama.
