The Houston Astros are reportedly after a top-flight free agent. The Athletic reported on Thursday that the Astros are pursuing five-time All-Star relief pitcher Josh Hader.
Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome co-authored a report on The Athletic Thursday that the Astros are after the former National League saves leader in 2020. The three-time Reliever of the Year has spent his career with the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres.
Sources: Astros making push for Josh Hader. With @Chandler_Rome: https://t.co/33YsJBxiHh
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 18, 2024
A move to the American League would be a first for the left-handed Hader. He’s proven to be great on the mound, but much like many relievers, you only have to wonder how long that will go.
Still, his reputation on the mound precedes him. You don’t see five-time All-Star relievers grow on trees and especially not left-handers. So he’s a valuable piece for whoever he lands with.
MLB free agency has kind of slowe down after a big surge in December. Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers to record-setting deals. Those, thus far, have been the only seismic moves in baseball. Josh Hader signing somewhere would at least get something on the board.
We’ll see if things come to fruition here. The Astros have had a great pbullpen over the past few years. Signing someone like Hader would likely only extend that.
