Padres Lose All-Star Closer Josh Hader to Houston Astros in Free Agency

Closer Josh Hader signed a historic contract with the Houston Astros on Friday.

Josh Hader made baseball history on Friday when he agreed to a five-year, $95 million contract with the Houston Astros.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, it is the largest present-day value contract for a reliever 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

Passan also explained that Hader's contract exceeds the value of Edwin Díaz's $102.5 million contract with the New York Mets because deferrals took Díaz down to $93.1 million.

Hader has been one of, if not, the best closers in baseball over the past seven years with an exception of his rough end to the 2022 season. 

He bounced back in 2023 with 33 saves, an earned run average of 1.28, 85 strikeouts and 30 walks in 56.1 innings.

The southpaw was a bright spot in a tumultuous Padres' season that saw a star-studded team grossly underachieve.

The 29-year-old was the best reliever available on the free-agent market. He joins an Astros bullpen that features Ryan Pressly, who has 90 saves over the last three seasons. With the addition of Hader, Pressly will most likely move to the eighth inning set-up role due to Kendall Graveman's being sidelined for all of 2024 after shoulder surgery.

Hader was an All-Star in his first five Major League seasons with Milwaukee before the Brewers sent him to the Padres in 2022 where he helped them reach the National League Championship Series.

Since 2019, he has an MLB-best 153 saves and 437 strikeouts.