Sep 20, 2023; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Josh Hader (71) throws a pitch against the Colorado Rockies during the ninth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres
HOUSTON — The rich get richer. In this case, the best team in the American League just got much better.
And one of the best relievers in baseball is officially off the market.
All-Star closer Josh Hader reportedly signed a five-year, $95 million deal with the Houston Astros on Friday, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The contract, which is the largest for a relief pitcher in baseball history, does not contain financial deferrals, according to Passan.
Hader will take over as Houston’s primary closer, which was previously held by Ryan Pressly, who has compiled 107 saves over the last six years.
It’s the perfect landing spot for the 29-year-old southpaw, who was actually traded to the Milwaukee Brewers from Houston back in 2015.
Hader rebounded in spectacular fashion last year finishing with 33 saves for the Padres parlayed with stellar 1.28 ERA and a 85/30 K/BB ratio across 61 appearances. The five-time NL All-Star finished in the top ten of Cy Young voting in 2018. But two years ago, he struggled, posting a 5.22 ERA in 50 innings — with both the Brewers and Padres. Hader performed particularly poorly for the playoff-bound Padres in 2022, with a 7.31 ERA in 16 innings. Clearly, Houston is betting on Hader performing to the standard established on the “back of his baseball card.”
The Astros, fresh off another appearance in the AL Championship Series, enter 2024 with vast expectation, yet again.
