Dodgers Won’t Sign Josh Hader, Who Agrees to Terms With Houston Astros
The Houston Astros have agreed to sign All-Star closer Josh Hader to a five-year, $95 million deal. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the news. Hader and the Los Angeles Dodgers have been linked all offseason long. In the end, though, he’s agreed to a deal with Houston.
It was reported on Thursday that Houston was making a strong push to sign Hader. This came shortly after the news that Kendall Graveman would be out for the season with a shoulder injury.
The Dodgers and Hader had been linked, especially over the past few weeks. Even after signing Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto for over $1 billion, reports circulated about L.A. being interested in the All-Star closer.
The fit made sense, as Evan Phillips would have been able to return to his setup role, and the Dodgers would be adding a left-handed reliever to a bullpen that currently has Alex Vesia, Caleb Ferguson and maybe Ryan Yarbough (although he could be a starter at this point in the offseason).
However, it was unlikely the Dodgers would pay top dollar to add Hader, so unless he fell into their laps, it was hard to imagine him landing in Los Angeles.
Houston felt a sense of urgency to get a deal done, so after a long offseason of waiting for a big deal, Hader finally got what he was looking for.
As for the Dodgers, they’ve been linked to many other relievers to shore up their bullpen, including Robert Stephenson, Emmanuel Clase, Kenley Jansen and Ryan Brasier.
Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
The bullpen is fine as is, and that is without high ceiing arms like Frasso and Hurt ready for a chance, and it isn’t a stretch for May to be available by seasons end, so let it ride.
Can anyone tell Dodger fans why the genius Dodger ‘hedge-fund,’ front office wouldn’t sign Josh Hader, a certified closer, and a left-hander in an otherwise weak left-hander bullpen? Reports are he signed for $95 million over 5 years. What were the Dodgers offering? Evan Phillips is not an established closer. Not signing Hader for 19-20 mil per year feels like another “bargain basement”move courtesy of the “Garment Center” mentality oft used by ‘Wall Streeter’ Andrew Friedman, and his boss, Stan Kasten. Signing Hader would’ve put the cherry on top! Most of the money spent on Ohtani, and perhaps Yamamoto, is deferred. These two Dodger baseball, bargain hunter honchos, are puzzling us all because Hader would have been a great piece to inch closer to a Dodger World Series appearance.