Houston Astros closer Josh Hader turned in a poor outing in a non-save situation in Monday's 6-1 loss to the Braves. Hader came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning down 2-1. He allowed a leadoff walk, allowed the runner to advance on a wild pitch, gave up four consecutive singles scoring two, got an out on a strikeout, and was replaced by Brandon Bielak. The 30-year-old lefty signed a hefty five-year, $95 million deal this off-season. However, he is 0-2 and has converted one of two save opportunities with a bloated 9.39 ERA in 7 2/3 innings pitched. The season is early and Hader has been historically excellent, so fantasy managers should not worry just yet.

Houston Astros closer Josh Hader finally grabbed his first save of the season on Sunday in a 3-1 win over the Texas Rangers. Although he allowed a run on a hit and a walk in his inning of work, he (and fantasy managers) will take the save. Hader hasn't been himself this year, as he has now allowed four runs in five innings of work. He has a pair of losses and a blown save as well. The 30-year-old will have a long leash after signing a five-year deal in Houston, so fantasy managers shouldn't be concerned yet.

Houston Astros closer Josh Hader blew his first save opportunity of the season and fell to 0-2 in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays. Hader came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up 1-0. He allowed a leadoff single, induced a groundball double play, allowed a walk, gave up a two-run home run, and got the final out on a ground out. The Astros were unable to tie or win in the bottom half, saddling Hader with the loss. The high-profile lefty has been disappointing so far this season despite signing a huge contract this off-season and owns a 6.75 ERA with seven strikeouts and two walks in four innings pitched. However, Hader should be given a long leash given his career success and the contract he signed. Further, his predecessor, Ryan Pressly, has also gotten off to a rough start.

Houston Astros closer Josh Hader and right-handed reliever Bryan Abreu are both unavailable on Monday night against the Toronto Blue Jays, according to manager Joe Espada. Hader pitched three of the first four games of the season against the New York Yankees over the weekend, and Abreu threw on Saturday and Sunday during the team's four-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees. If a save situation arises for the Astros on Monday versus the Blue Jays, it will likely be Ryan Pressly who gets the save chance. Hader, a five-time All-Star, has been busy in the early going in his first year in Houston, but he doesn't have a save to show for it after the team got swept by the Yankees in the four-game series over the weekend. He's allowed an earned run on two hits while walking one and fanning seven in his first three innings of work.

Houston Astros reliever Josh Hader is having a nice spring to this point in Grapefruit League action. The left-hander has worked to a 3.18 ERA across 5 2/3 innings of work in five appearances, striking out five versus two walks in that time. The strikeout artist began his spring with four scoreless frames but allowed a pair of solo home runs in 2/3 of an inning his last time out on Monday. Signed to a historic deal this winter, Hader posted an eye-popping 1.28 ERA alongside a massive 36.8% K% across 61 outings with the Padres last season, locking down 33 saves in that time. As the confirmed closer for a strong Astros team, Hader is a candidate to pace all of baseball in saves in 2024 while boasting elite strikeout stuff with a career 42.2% K%, making him perhaps the top closing option in fantasy baseball.

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that left-hander Josh Hader would be the team's closer in 2024, with right-hander Ryan Pressly serving in a late-inning setup role. "Hader will pitch the ninth inning if both guys are available," Espada said. It's no surprise that Hader will be Houston's closer after they signed him to a five-year, $95 million deal in free agency this winter, but it's now official. The 29-year-old hard-throwing left-hander is one of the most dominant late-inning relievers in the game and is now joining a strong Astros club that should give him plenty of save opportunities. Pressly will still likely pick up an occasional save or two, but his fantasy value is going to take a big hit with a permanent move to a setup role in front of Hader. With the San Diego Padres last year, Hader had a 1.28 ERA, 85 strikeouts and 33 saves in 56 1/3 innings.

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada would not name a closer when reporters asked him over the weekend at the team's FanFest. This is notable as the Astros just signed closer Josh Hader to a record-breaking contract. Ryan Pressly, who locked down 31 saves for Houston last season, was the clear incumbent before the Hader signing. Conventional wisdom says that Hader will eventually be given the job given his pedigree and contract situation. The 29-year-old southpaw finished the 2023 season with a 1.28 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 85:30 K/BB ratio to go along with 33 saves over 56 1/3 innings with the Padres. Pressly could shift into a setup role once Hader established himself so he should still hold fantasy value in NSVH leagues.

The Houston Astros have signed Josh Hader to a historic five-year, $95 million contract. While the total sum does not surpass the five-year, $102 million deal Edwin Diaz netted from the Mets prior to the 2023 season, it is the largest present-day value contract for a reliever in MLB history as it does not contain referrals. It had been reported recently that the Astros were making a strong push for Hader and they have now landed the best free-agent relief pitcher available. The left-hander struggled in the 2022 season but delivered an eye-popping 1.28 ERA and 36.8 K%, albeit alongside a 13% BB%, across 61 appearances for the Padres in 2023, locking down 33 saves in the process. The 29-year-old owns a career 2.50 ERA across 349 career appearances, posting a 42.2% K% and 32% K-BB% along with 165 saves in that time.

Despite already having one of the best closers in postseason history in right-hander Ryan Pressly, the Houston Astros are trying to sign free-agent left-hander Josh Hader, who is considered perhaps the best closer in baseball. According to sources briefed on their discussions, the Astros are making a push for the 29-year-old southpaw who has been seeking a contract in excess of Mets closer Edwin Diaz's five-year, $102 million deal, which was the largest ever for a reliever. The addition of Hader would help boost a bullpen that won't have Kendall Graveman (shoulder) for the entire season. Houston has wanted Hader since the trade deadline in 2023, but adding him now would raise questions about how first-year manager Joe Espada would handle the closer role. If Hader is added on a huge deal, it's likely that he'd serve as the primary closer, with Pressly moving to a setup role.

The consensus in the industry is that left-handed closer Josh Hader wants to exceed the five-year, $102 million deal the New York Mets gave Edwin Diaz in November of 2022, even though Hader is entering his age-30 season and is a year older than Diaz was. But Hader has better numbers with a 2.50 career ERA and a 42.2 percent career strikeout rate. Hader also had a lower ERA in his platform season (1.28), even with a career-high 13 percent walk rate. Diaz was coming off a season in which he recorded the second-highest rate of strikeouts per nine innings in major-league history when he signed his deal. His contract also includes $26.5 million in deferrals. It means that Hader and his agent, Jeff Barry, don't need to exceed the $102 million to say they beat Diaz for the richest contract for a reliever.

The Texas Rangers are making progress on a local TV deal this offseason and now seem likely to be back in play to re-sign left-hander Jordan Montgomery and make a run at free-agent lefty closer Josh Hader. The Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Angels are possibilities for Montgomery if he doesn't return to the World Series champions. Hader, meanwhile, has been connected more to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Montgomery has also been linked to the New York Yankees, where he spent the first six years of his career. The 31-year-old was a huge midseason acquisition for Texas in 2023, as he had a strong 2.79 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 11 regular season starts for the Rangers late in the year. Hader would immediately become Texas' primary closer as one of the most dominant left-handed arms in all of baseball.

The Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees are among the clubs interested in free agent reliever Josh Hader. However, it was reported that all three clubs prefer to ink a starting pitcher prior to signing a reliever. Hader is looking to exceed the five-year, $102 million contract fellow reliever Edwin Diaz signed with the New York Mets but it seems no club has been willing to pony up to that dollar figure at this time. The left-hander bounced back in a big way in 2023, posting an elite 1.28 ERA across 61 outings with the Padres, locking down 33 saves in the process. His walk rate elevated to 13% but he also punched out 36.8% of the hitters he faced a season ago. Fantasy managers would be wise to be high on one of the best relievers in baseball heading into the 2024 season.

Despite recently making a massive signing of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (elbow), the Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly targeting top free-agent closer Josh Hader, per Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci. The salary deferrals in Ohtani's contract may allow the Dodgers to bring in one or several top-tier additional players. Hader had an excellent bounce-back 2023 season with the Padres, converting 33 of 38 save opportunities with a 1.28 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 36.8% strikeout rate. While Evan Phillips pitched well as the team's closer last season with 24 saves and a 2.05 ERA, he was not always employed as a true closer, as Brusdar Graterol had seven saves. Hader will be a top fantasy option regardless of where he signs and it seems likely that he will eventually sign with a competitive team.

The Texas Rangers are considered the heavy favorites to sign free-agent closer Josh Hader this offseason. The Philadelphia Phillies have shown little appetite for Hader, which should especially be true after they signed re-signed right-hander Aaron Nola to a big long-term deal on Sunday. The Rangers are looking to upgrade the back end of their bullpen this winter after just winning the first World Series championship in franchise history. The 29-year-old Hader is one of the most dominant closers in baseball and is coming off his fifth All-Star campaign in his first full year with the San Diego Padres in which he had a stingy 1.28 ERA (2.69 FIP), 1.10 WHIP, 33 saves, 30 walks and 85 strikeouts in 56 1/3 relief innings.

MLB Network insider Jon Morosi reported Monday that the Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies have emerged as the top candidates to sign free-agent relief pitcher Josh Hader. The left-hander is the clear top bullpen arm on the free-agent market this offseason, converting 33 of 38 save opportunities with a 1.28 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 36.8% strikeout rate in 2023 with the Padres. Despite winning the World Series, late-inning security was an issue throughout the regular season for the Rangers, and the Phillies struggled to close games out in the playoffs. Hader has been a top fantasy player throughout his career and either landing spot would be a great fit from that perspective.

The San Diego Padres officially extended a $20.325 million qualifying offer to left-handed closer Josh Hader, ensuring they will receive draft-pick compensation if he departs to another team in free agency this offseason. Hader is expected to decline the offer and seek a bigger deal on the open market this winter. At 29 years old, Hader remains one of the most dominant closers in the game. He was an All-Star for the fifth straight season (not counting 2020) and had a shiny 1.28 ERA (2.69 FIP) and 1.10 WHIP with 33 saves, 30 walks and 85 strikeouts in 56 1/3 relief innings over 61 appearances out of the Padres bullpen. Wherever Hader is pitching in 2024, he's almost certainly going to be a full-time closer and a high-end fantasy closer.

San Diego Padres reliever Josh Hader picked up the save on Wednesday, going one inning, allowing one hit and striking out a pair in the 5-2 victory against the Baltimore Orioles. It was the left-hander's 27th save of the season to go along with a 0.84 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 38.5% strikeout rate over 42 2/3 innings. Hader has never looked better, and fantasy owners need to start the 29-year-old in all formats.

Several teams who have spoken with the San Diego Padres in recent days believe that Cy Young winner Blake Snell and All-Star closer Josh Hader will be traded before the Aug. 1 deadline, particularly Hader. The struggling Padres (49-54) are in seventh place in the wild-card standings, 6.5 games out of a playoff spot. Snell has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this year with a 2.61 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 147 strikeouts in 114 innings over 21 starts, but he could be slipping after walking 12 batters in his last two starts. The 30-year-old southpaw is an obvious trade candidate with his contract up this winter. Hader will also be a free agent after the 2023 season. If he's traded in the coming week, Robert Suarez would likely step into the closer's role in San Diego moving forward.

San Diego Padres reliever Josh Hader picked up his 19th save of the season on Tuesday when his club defeated the Los Angeles Angels 8-5. He came into the game with one out in the ninth inning and was a bit shaky, walking two batters but didn't allow a run and struck out one. Hader's been dominant in 2023, posting a 1.15 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 37.6% strikeout rate across 31 1/3 innings. The lefty is a must-start in all formats, and hopefully, the Padres can improve on their 40-46, for fantasy owners' sakes.

San Diego Padres relief pitcher Josh Hader was tasked with shutting the door versus the Colorado Rockies on Saturday. The left-hander seemingly had no issues as he needed only 12 pitches to finish off the Rockies. He struck out Ryan McMahon, got Austin Wynns to ground out and fanned Elehuris Montero to record his 15th save of the season. The 28-year-old has recorded 15 of his 18 save chances up to this point. He holds a 1.42 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 34/12 K/BB across 26 appearances this season.