Aug 9, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Josh Hader (71) throws a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Yankees, DodgNew Astros relief ace Josh Hader spoke on Foul Territory earlier this week, discussing his free agency and some of the other clubs that targeted him before signing with Houston on a five-year contract last month. Among such teams, Hader mentioned the Dodgers and Yankees. Hader went on to say that, while those teams weren’t the only ones to express interest in him this offseason, no other bidder equaled the Astros’ aggressiveness, as their $95 million offer broke the record for present-day value for a relief pitcher.ers had interest in Josh Hader prior to the Astros deal.
It’s no surprise that the Dodgers and Yankees both checked in on the 29-year-old pitcher this winter. Hader, a five-time All-Star and three-time NL Reliever of the Year, made his major league debut with the Brewers in 2017 and produced a spectacular 2.08 ERA in 47 2/3 innings. The southpaw hasn’t looked back since, posting an impressive 2.50 ERA and 2.73 FIP while garnering 165 saves in 349 appearances. Hader leads all relievers with an astounding 42.2% strikeout rate since his career began in 2017. He is coming off an unbelievable platform season in which he had a minuscule 1.28 ERA in 61 appearances.
Both teams were known to be interested in acquiring bullpen aid this winter and had the financial resources to make a trade happen, but they finally chose to seek elsewhere rather than pay Hader the type of nine-figure deal that would have surpassed Houston’s offer. Both teams were known to be interested in acquiring bullpen aid this winter and had the financial resources to make a trade happen, but they finally chose to seek elsewhere rather than pay Hader the kind of nine-figure deal that would have surpassed Houston’s offer.
Both Brasier and Ferguson are quality arms with lots of late-inning experience, but neither has Hader’s background. While it is possible that either club will add to their relief corps before Opening Day, the surefire alternatives available in free agency are limited. Former Astros right-hander Ryne Stanek is one of the remaining alternatives, with a 2.90 ERA over the last three seasons, but the market is dominated by bounceback candidates such as Brad Hand and Mychal Givens at this point in the summer.
If the Dodgers or Yankees decide to bolster their relief corps in the coming weeks, one likely candidate remaining on the market is Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen, whom the club has reportedly showed a willingness to shop this offseason. The Dodgers were linked to Jansen, who spent the first twelve seasons of his career with the team until signed with the Braves prior to the 2022 season, earlier this offseason. The same cannot be said about the Yankees, but it is worth noting that the traditional AL East rivals have shown an increased willingness to trade with one another in recent years, including a deal that brought Alex Verdugo to the Bronx earlier this winter. Jansen, a 14-year MLB veteran with 420 career saves and a 3.63 ERA in 51 appearances in Boston last year, would be an upgrade to any club’s relief mix, but he is owing a hefty $16MM in the last year of his contract this season.
