Josh Hader Gives The Astros The Best Bullpen In MLB
Superstar closer Josh Hader is heading to the Houston Astros, signing a five-year, $95 million contract. Hader is the best closer in the game, displaying as much in his time with the Milwaukee Brewers and the San Diego Padres since 2018. Hader was also a part of the Astros organization in 2013 and ideally should have never been moved.
Hader is bolstering a fantastic Astros bullpen headlined by Bryan Abreu and now former closer Ryan Pressly. Very surprising with many minds pointing to the Rangers being the favorite to land Hader.
Houston lost to the Rangers in the ALCS last season in seven games. Instead of staying put, they grab the best reliever on the market. Sustained success is certainly a huge selling point to players, no matter the opinions of the Astros we cannot deny their ability to make strong moves big or small to keep them atop the American League.
Houston is a problem:
Hader brings a warning to the other contending teams in baseball; that the Houston Astros are here to stay for another half decade. A tremendous crop of talent in veterans Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Justin Verlander to young stars to carry the team for the next decade with Yordan Alvarez, Jeremy Pena and Kyle Tucker. Hader slides perfectly into a championship window for Houston that may remain open until the Astros want to close it.
Without Hader, the Astros have been to the ALCS every year since 2017 and have made the World Series four times in that window. His signing has such a tremendous impact on the AL West and the rest of the league. Hader to Houston means their rivals aren’t the ones acquiring his services. At the same time making a World Series-caliber bullpen into an absolute juggernaut. I anticipate he will fit in just fine with the Astros, as they have a history with great lefty-closers like Billy Wagner.
Josh Hader is coming off a spectacular season with the Padres in a return-to-form season for him. Finishing his 2023 season with a 1.28 ERA, 31 saves, 13.6 strikeouts per nine innings and a 1.101 WHIP. He is leaving a top defense in San Diego however for an about-average defense with the Astros, which may not lead to a lot of difference–more so nitpicking because Hader’s FIP is still 2.69.
Point is: Right now, Josh Hader to the Astros just seems like a fantastic move.
What Now?
Teams like the Rangers will surely be looking elsewhere for bullpen help. Now that Hader has signed, it may open doors for Kenley Jansen to be on the move, seeing that the Red Sox are open to trading him. Hopefully, with another big name off the board, the 2024 MLB offseason jumps into a higher gear. Less than a month before spring training gets underway so anticipate moves to be made real soon.
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