Josh Hader: A Wise Investment By The Astros?
Josh Hader became the highest-paid reliever in the history of baseball after signing with the Astros. However, are we positive the Astros made a wise investment here? With any mega baseball contract, there is always risk involved. Will Hader be worth the risk? Let’s talk about it.
I think the biggest thing we have to remember here is that Houston deserves the benefit of the doubt on all pitching acquisitions. It sure seems like everyone they acquire pitches better for them than their prior location.
Hector Neris has a career 2.69 ERA with Houston. Compare that to his 3.42 ERA mark with Philadelphia. Ryan Pressly has pitched six years with Minnesota and six years with Houston. His ERA with the Astros is 2.67 compared to 3.75 with the Twins. Justin Verlander has a 2.36 ERA with Houston. By far his lowest mark while pitching for any other team. Ditto for Gerrit Cole.
The pitching factory the Astros have works and has proven to be very real. With a guy like Hader, you have to like his chances to pitch well.
Hader, 29, is really only a two-pitch guy. The fastball comes in hot at 96 and the slider completely buckles you. Every once in a blue moon, the changeup gets mixed in. There is some predictability with Hader but it’s noting that Hader has exclusively pitched in the National League. There is slightly less familiarity in the AL. Yes, I’m very aware that everyone plays everyone now but maybe Hader will be a bit of a mystery in the first year of the deal.
As long as Hader delivers, this pen in Houston is going to be ridiculous. Pressly moves to the 8th. Bryan Abreu in the 7th. Hopefully, Neris can also return. Plus, you have Kendall Graveman. Hader cost a pretty penny but for a team like Houston, it feels like a risk worth taking.
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