ESPN has learned from sources that the Houston Astros and left-handed reliever Josh Hader have agreed to a five-year, $95 million contract, according to Jeff Passan.
Passan said the deal does not include deferrals and is currently the highest paid for a relief pitcher in MLB history.
BREAKING: Star closer Josh Hader and the Houston Astros have agreed to a five-year, $95 million contract, sources tell ESPN.
This contract does not include deferrals. This is the highest current value contract for a relief pitcher in baseball history.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 19, 2024
The New York Mets signed closer Edwin Diaz to a contract worth $102.5 million in 2023, but Passan said the delay has reduced the current value of that contract to about $93.1 million.
Josh Hader joins an Astros bullpen that already features an elite closer in Ryan Pressley. They will be the best one-two punch in the game.
Hader's $95 million contract is more than Edwin Diaz's contract in current dollars. With the postponement, Diaz's $102.5 million contract value became approximately $93.1 million.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 19, 2024
It's unclear whether he will be the Astros' closer, but the Astros already have a very solid nine-inning pitcher in two-time All-Star Ryan Pressley. Either way, this combination provides a solid one-two punch and will undoubtedly make Houston's bullpen the best in the league. (Related: Fox Sports hires former St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright as TV analyst)
Hader had a terrible 2022, but is on track to have a great 2023.san diego padres obtained According to MLB.com, Hader will be acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in the middle of 2022 in an expensive player package. Hader He then appeared in 19 games with San Diego and posted an astonishingly high ERA of 7.31.
But the five-time All-Star bounced back in a big way in 2023, making 33 saves while posting a 1.28 ERA as San Diego's closer.
The 29-year-old provides a powerful addition to the back end of the bullpen for the Astros as they look to reclaim the World Series title.
