Josh Hader Remains Top Free-Agent Option For Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers would solve their biggest problem entering the 2024 season by signing free-agent closer Josh Hader.

The Texas Rangers know they need bullpen help. And the dots keep connecting to the best closer in the game.

The Athletic put together a free-agent fit for each team going into next week’s MLB winter meetings in Nashville, which is when many free-agent deals and trades get done.

From the Athletic’s standpoint, San Diego’s free-agent closer Josh Hader makes too much sense, so much so that the site projects Hader would get a five-year, $104 million deal.

Free-agent closer Josh Hader could be asking for a contract totaling more than $100 million / © Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

By signing Hader, the Athletic writes, the Rangers could pair him with a holdover reliever and create a powerful bullpen:

… they sign Hader and pair him with José Leclerc, which would give the Rangers the most powerful back of the bullpen in the game.

The estimated contract fits Hader’s and his agent’s desire to eclipse the five-year, $102 million deal that New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz signed last offseason.

But signing Hader would also fill a gaping need for the Rangers, who were 27th in MLB with 30 saves. Worse, the Rangers had 63 opportunities. They had more blown saves than saves in 2023, and they not only became the first team to make the playoffs converting fewer than 50 percent of save opportunities, but they also won the World Series.

The Rangers picked up Leclerc’s contract option for 2024, but he only had four regular-season saves. Their saves leader, Will Smith, is a free agent.

Hader is the lock-down closer that would eliminate many of last season’s issues.

Hader turned into a bullpen star in 2018, when he became an All-Star for the first time as he went 6-1 with a 2.43 ERA and racked up 12 saves.

Since then, Hader has gone to four more All-Star Games, including in 2023, and has gone 20-21 with a 2.50 ERA and 165 saves.

The Rangers aren’t set in their starting rotation, but they have a good start with pitchers under contract in Max Scherzer, Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney and Dane Dunning. Jacob deGrom might be back at some point in 2024 from Tommy John surgery. The Rangers hope to re-sign left-hander Jordan Montgomery.

By signing Hader, he could give the rotation a lot of security in 2024.

Insider Lists Potential Pitching Trade Targets

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook and X.