Getty Josh Hader
Star closer Josh Hader‘s free agency market has heated up over the last few weeks, and with less than a month until pitchers report to spring training, he’s secured a five-year, $95 million deal with the Houston Astros, according to NY Post’s Jon Heyman.
The 29-year-old’s deal “may be considered a record” for a relief pitcher, per Heyman, since Edwin Díaz’s five-year, $102 million contract with the New York Mets had a number of deferrals that decreased its value to around $94 million.
Hader has no deferrals in deal so it may be considered a record. Diaz $102M deal worth about $94M with deferrals.
On January 18, Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported the Astros were “making a push” for the five-time All-Star, looking to reinforce their bullpen after losing Kendall Graveman to shoulder surgery. This is Hader’s second stint with the Astros, having played with the team in 2013-2015.
Hader is largely considered one of the best, if not the best, closers in MLB. His career .156 opponents’ batting average and 15 strikeouts per nine innings (minimum 300 innings) are the best of any pitcher in the modern baseball era (since 1901). In 2023 with the San Diego Padres, the 29-year-old posted a 1.28 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 56.1 innings, proving that even as his average fastball velocity slows down — 97.4 in 2022 to 96.1 in 2023 — he’s still an undeniably fierce presence on the mound.
Inside Josh Hader’s Astros Contract
Hader’s five-year, $95 million contract with the Astros will include a full no-trade clause and no deferrals, according to Heyman. Rome reported the deal does not include any opt outs or club options.
Josh Hader’s deal contains a full no-trade clause and no deferred money, source tells @TheAthletic. It will pay Hader $19 million from 2024-28. It is a record valuation for a closer given there are no deferrals.
Since Hader rejected a qualifying offer from the Padres earlier in the offseason, the Astros will forfeit a draft pick with this signing.
The deal is the largest given to a free agent since Astros owner Jim Crane took over the team in 2011. Prior to Hader’s contract, the largest free-agent deal of Crane’s tenure was first baseman José Abreu’s three-year, $58.5 million contract signed last offseason.
Organizing the Astros’ Bullpen
The Astros were dealt a significant blow earlier this week with the news that reliever Graveman underwent surgery on his right shoulder and will likely miss the entire 2024 season. With Hader now joining the bullpen and likely to step into the role as closer, current closer Ryan Pressly will be available as a high-leverage arm to take over Graveman’s position.
It’s unclear at this stage whether the Astros intend to use Hader as their sole closer or split innings with Pressly.
In the 2023 regular season, Pressly posted a 3.58 ERA with 74 strikeouts in 65.1 innings, including 31 saves. He recorded a perfect 0.00 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 6.0 innings during the Astros’ 2023 postseason campaign, and the season prior, he posted a 0.00 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 11.0 innings to help the team take home the 2022 World Series title.
Still, it’s unlikely the Astros would be putting up a record-setting amount of money for Hader and not intending to use him as their closer. At this point in his career, Hader may also have significant objections to being used as a middle-innings reliever or anything other than a designated closer.
Regardless, there’s no doubt the Astros are looking to play deep into October in 2024. Crane spoke to Bryan McTaggart of MLB.com about Hader’s deal, saying “We try to make moves to win. That’s what this one is about.”
More from Jim Crane to t.co/mDPUQE6013 on Astros’ approach: “We try to make moves to win. That’s what this one is about. That was the going rate and that’s what got it done. We’re happy we did and if we have to do something else down the road, that’s a possibility, too.”
“We think we have a good team and it adds a big piece to the back of our bullpen,” Crane continued. “With Pressly and (Bryan) Abreu, you have three quality guys, 7-8-9, wherever they pitch. We think it gives us a nice chance to get to the playoffs and make a run at another World Series.”