The only thing stranger than how long it took one of baseball’s best closers to get a deal is where he ended up.
On the surface, the Houston Astros didn’t have a closer problem entering 2024, not with Ryan Pressly on the roster.
The Astros traded for the long-time set-up man in 2018 and he eventually emerged as their closer in 2020. In the past four seasons, he’s closed 104 games and helped Houston win a World Series in 2022. He’s closed out two no-hitters.
But Pressly is also entering his age 35 season and has one year left on his contract, with a mutual option in 2025.
So, when the opportunity arose for the Astros to pursue Josh Hader, it came together fast with a five-year, $95 million deal that basically makes Hader the Astros’ closer for the next five seasons.
The move is logical for the Astros. Hader is entering his age 30 season. He’s a three-time All-Star with 163 career saves and a career 2.50 ERA. And, oddly, he’s a former Astros farmhand.
The deal moved fast, a reported 72 hours from conversation to agreement.
But it didn’t move so fast that it didn’t keep Astros general manager Dana Brown from keeping Pressly in the loop.
The closer knew what was coming even before the deal was agreed to. Brown didn’t need Pressly’s permission. But he wanted to show the long-time Astros reliever respect during the process.
“I didn’t want to get down the road on this without talking to Pressly,” Brown said to the Houston media after the announcement. “I think that Pressly means so much to this organization. His leadership in the clubhouse, his leadership in the bullpen, the things that he’s done for this organization. He’s just been a pillar. But I wanted to talk to him because I know that’s the right thing to do.”
It didn’t require much of a sales job. Hader helps the team and helps Pressly, too. Before he was a closer Pressly was a set-up man with Minnesota, where he logged 281 appearances and left the Twins with a 3.75 ERA.
Astros manager Joe Espada didn’t name Hader the closer after the signing. But a team doesn’t sign a player like Hader for nearly $20 million per year to be a set-up man. When Opening Day hits, it’s likely Hader will get the ninth inning.
Pressly will probably get the eighth. Given both pitchers’ track records, that should make the Astros nearly impossible to catch if they have a lead.
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