The MLB world is buzzing after a big free agent just came off the board. Relief pitcher Josh Hader has found a new home. The former five-time All-Star will sign with the Houston Astros on a long-term deal.
Hader was reportedly pursued heavily by the Astros as recently as Thursday. One day later, and he’s an Astro. It’s funny how that works sometimes. The details of the contract are sizable: It’s a five-year deal worht $95 million. That’s the highest “present-day value” for a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball history.
News of Hader’s signing with the Astros first emerged on Friday afternoon. ESPN’s Jeff Passan was among those to report the news.
“Star closer Josh Hader and the Houston Astros are in agreement on a five-year, $95 million contract,” Passan posted. Passan made the post on X, the website formelry known as Twitter. The ESPN MLB insider also added, “The deal contains no deferrals. It is the largest present-day value contract for a relief pitcher in baseball history.”
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
Hader has posted a 2.50 ERA with 648 strikeouts in 388.2 career innings pitched. That’s good for an incredible K/9 ratio of exactly 15.0. It’s safe to say that Hader has been one of the most unhittable relievers in MLB since 2017.
Hader, 29, will turn 30 this April and has had a strong career out of the bullpen. The former five-time All-Star stood out with the Brewers and the Astros. He produced a prodigious enough 2018 season that landed him seventh in National League Cy Young voting as a reliever.
The MLB world reacted to the big news.
it's not just that Hader is joining Ryan Pressly — it's that Bryan Abreu might be better than both of them https://t.co/TTGHdfYbea
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) January 19, 2024
No reunion with him and Counsell. 🫠 https://t.co/Uh2TtFUZDw
— Mike Praznowski (@PrazMaster) January 19, 2024
A reliever has now made more money on a contract than any White Sox player has made in history.
This is $76 million more than Jerry Reinsdorf bought the team for.
$75 million is the most he’s spent on a free agent contract. https://t.co/x63a7jcXJb
— BK (@TheBennettK) January 19, 2024
Median prediction for him was 4y/$84M, and I did not think he would set a record of any kind. Good for him and good job by his agent https://t.co/rBD0OH2tV0
— Jon Becker (@jonbecker_) January 19, 2024
Awesome for Josh. He deserves it. Also extremely glad it wasn’t the dodgers. https://t.co/XVhifSYLJP
— rich (@rich_roberts) January 19, 2024
