There is no lack of interest when it comes to Josh Hader. It’s going to come down to whoever wants to pay the hefty price.
According to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, the reliever is “looking for a deal north of Edwin Diaz, so it would be five years, over $100 million, and so far, no club has gone to that ballpark, at least as of yet. But the three teams that are in play are the New York Yankees, the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Dodgers.”
Sources confirm to The Comeback that Hader not only is looking for a deal like this, but he very well could be the highest-paid reliever in the history of Major League Baseball.
And he’s worth every penny.
The five-time All-Star finished his 2023 campaign with the San Diego Padres boasting a 1.28 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings — good enough for a 1.10 WHIP.
He’s also a three-time Reliever of the Year, which is why Bowden refers to him as a difference maker.
It’s no surprise these teams would want a starter before they put their money toward the bullpen, but over the years, those in that role have become to have more value both monetarily and contractual-wise.
“What is very interesting here, is it appears that all three of those teams prefer to sign a starter or trade for a starting pitcher rather than getting a closer,” Bowden added.
This remains a very slow free agency, but after the new year, expect that to change.
[MLB.com]
