The Houston Astros and left handed reliever Josh Hader are reportedly in agreement on a five year $95 million deal, ESPN learned from a source, according to Jeff Passan.
The deal, which includes no deferrals, is the largest in current monetary value for a reliever in MLB history, Passan reported.
BREAKING: Star closer Josh Hader and the Houston Astros are in agreement on a five-year, $95 million contract, a source tells ESPN.
The deal contains no deferrals. It is the largest present-day value contract for a relief pitcher in baseball history.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 19, 2024
The New York Mets gave closer Edwin Diaz a $102.5 million deal in 2023, but according to Passan, deferrals took the present value of that deal down to approximately $93.1
Josh Hader joins an Astros bullpen that already has an elite closer in Ryan Pressly. They’ll be the best 1-2 punch in the game.
Hader’s deal for $95 million exceeds that of Edwin Díaz’s in present dollars. Deferrals took the value of Díaz’s $102.5 million deal to around $93.1M.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 19, 2024
It is unclear whether or not Hader will be the Astros closer, as they already have a very solid 9th inning man in two-time All Star Ryan Pressly. Either way, the combination will give them a solid one-two punch that arguably makes the Houston bullpen the best in the league. (RELATED: Fox Sports Hires Former St. Louis Cardinals Ace Adam Wainwright As TV Analyst)
Hader is coming off of a stellar 2023 after posting an atrocious stat line in 2022. The San Diego Padres acquired Hader from the Milwaukee Brewers halfway through 2022 for a pricey package of players, according to Mlb.com. Hader then went on to post a mind-bogglingly high 7.31 earned run average in 19 appearances for San Diego.
But the five-time All Star bounced back in a big way in 2023, posting a 1.28 earned run average while racking up 33 saves as San Diego’s closer.
The 29-year-old gives the Astros serious fire power at the back end of their bullpen as they look to reclaim their World Series crown.