Serious Competitor to Dodgers Has Reportedly Joined Josh Hader Sweepstakes

Are the Dodgers on the outside looking in here?

All offseason, there has been speculation arround the Dodgers making improvements to an already strong bullpen. 

The group is quite talented in nature. You've got a host of guys who throw exceptionally hard. Most of them are battle-tested when it comes to playoff baseball. 

If there's one potential issue, it's the lack of a true closer. Evan Phillips has been fantastic over the last year in that role. With that said. L.A. would love to have him function more so as a setup pitcher. Landing an elite closer -- say, Josh Hader -- could alleviate some concerns moving forward. 

While the Dodgers would love to land the multi-time All-Star, they aren't alone in pursuit. In fact, an old foe in the American League West seems to be making some ground in the Hader sweepstakes. 

Ryan Pressly is one of the best closers in postseason history. But the Astros might want him to share ninth-inning duties or supplant him entirely in 2024.

Could Josh Hader be the guy?@Ken_Rosenthal & @Chandler_Rome discuss:https://t.co/ABEIM0fYdd

— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) January 18, 2024

According to a report from The Athletic, the Houston Astros are making a strong push to sign Hader. Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome believe Hader is expecting a deal exceeding the one Mets closer Edwin Diaz got. That contract was a five-year agreement worth $102 million. 

As the article states, the Astros are facing the real prospect of rebuilding its bullpen from the ground up. The team lost multiple relievers to free agency, and reliable Kendall Graveman reportedly will miss all of this upcoming season with a shoulder ailment. 

The thought in Houston would be using Hader as a closer, with incumbent closer Ryan Pressly moving to a setup role. 

As it pertains to the Dodgers, this isn't a total surprise. Contenders all across baseball would love to add Hader to their respective teams. The Dodgers have to weigh whether they'd pony up the cash to sign Hader to a lucrative deal. 

If not, they have recently been linked to another reliever who wouldn't cost nearly as much.

UPDATE:

Hader has agreed to terms on a five-year, $95 million deal with the Houston Astros, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.

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