Former Brewers closer Josh Hader signs with Astros in largest contract in MLB history for a relief pitcher
Josh Hader just got paid.
Big time.
The former Milwaukee Brewers all-star closer, who spent the last year and a half with the San Diego Padres, has signed a massive five-year, $95 million deal with the Houston Astros.
The contract is the largest present-day value contract for a relief pitcher in baseball history, according to 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
It's a somewhat full-circle moment for Hader.
Hader spent his early years in professional baseball with the Astros organization, though both were in the minor leagues and when Houston was a bottom feeder.
Now, the left-hander returns to the franchise as one of the game's best closers and with the team the most reliable in all of baseball.
Here's a look at Hader's impressive career:
Josh Hader became unstoppable closer for the Brewers
Hader established himself as a top-flight relief pitcher with the Brewers. The Astros traded Hader to the Brewers in July 2015. He got his callup during the 2017 season and never looked back. He became a special player for the Brewers during a special time in Milwaukee.
A look at his remarkable stretch:
He won NL Reliever of the Year in 2018 after he posted a 2.43 ERA, with 12 saves, a 6-1 record and 143 strikeouts in 81⅓ innings. Hader became the first non-closer to ever win the award. He set up Corey Knebel that season, a year in which the Brewers advanced to the National League Championship Series.
He took over the closer's role in 2019 and was as dominant as they come. He won his second straight NL Reliever of the Year honor that season and earned another All-Star Game appearance while the Brewers qualified for the playoffs again.
He led the NL in saves during the 2020 shortened season as the Brewers qualified for the playoffs for a third straight season.
In 2021, he earned a third All-Star Game appearance and took home NL Reliever of the Year honors for a third time. He also was part of a combined no-hitter.
He was again an all-star in 2022 before being traded to the Padres on Aug. 1 that season.
The Brewers made the playoffs every year he started and finished the season with the club.
Hader's 125 saves with the Brewers are second most in team history. Only Dan Plesac has more with 133.
Josh Hader's stats with the Padres, another all-star appearance
After being traded, Hader played a key role with the Padres during their run to the NLCS in 2022.
While he earned his fifth all-star appearance in 2023 the team failed to live up to massive expectations and didn't qualify for the playoffs.
Hader's 33 saves in 2023 were fifth in the NL. In 61 games, Hader posted a 1.28 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 2-3 record.
Josh Hader career stats
Hader comes to Houston still just 29 years old.
He will be the closer for a team that has advanced to seven straight American League Championship Series but is coming off a loss to the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers.
For his career, Hader has a 20-21 record with 165 saves, a 2.50 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 349 games.
He's been a strikeout machine during his career as well, racking up 15.01 per nine innings.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ex-Milwaukee Brewers closer Josh Hader gets massive deal with Astros
