FA ‘top closer’ Hader signs 5-year, $95 million contract with Houston
Josh Hader, the best free agent closer this offseason, signed with the Houston Astros.
Hader signed a five-year, $95 million contract with Houston.
According to the Department of Bankruptcy, there is no ‘payment’ in this contract.
This has further strengthened Houston’s powerful bullpen, recruiting the best reliever in the past seven seasons.
Hader had the highest fWAR of any reliever since his debut with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2017. The left-hander posted a 2.50 ERA in 388 2/3 innings in his career. He struck out 648 batters.
It is a risky bet to invest a large amount in a closer, but Hader is considered a pitcher with strong dominance and consistency.
Hader has a better ERA than the league average every season in the majors, except in 2022, when he posted a 5.22 ERA over 50 innings.
In 2023, he also posted a 1.28 ERA in 56 1/3 innings with the San Diego Padres.
Hader was named an All-Star five times out of seven seasons and won the National League Redemption Player of the Year award three times.
However, Hader couldn’t break Edwin Diaz’s five-year, $102 million contract with the New York Mets.
