New Astros relief pitcher Josh Hader recently appeared on Foul Territory where he discussed his free agency and the teams that pursued him before signing with Houston. Hader mentioned that the Dodgers and Yankees were among those teams interested in him. However, he emphasized that the Astros were the most aggressive suitor, offering a record-breaking $95MM deal for a relief pitcher.
It’s not surprising that the Dodgers and Yankees expressed interest in Hader. He is a five-time All-Star and three-time NL Reliever of the Year, known for his dominant performance on the mound. Since his rookie season in 2017, Hader has maintained an impressive 2.50 ERA and 2.73 FIP, with 165 saves in 349 appearances. His strikeout rate of 42.2% is the highest among all relievers during that time. In his most recent season, he achieved a remarkable 1.28 ERA in 61 appearances.
Both the Dodgers and Yankees were in the market for relief help this offseason and had the financial means to make a deal. However, they chose to explore other options instead of matching Houston’s offer to Hader. The Astros’ deal set the tone for the high-leverage relief market, leading to the signings of several experienced bullpen arms, including Robert Stephenson, Aroldis Chapman, and David Robertson. The Dodgers acquired Ryan Brasier, who had an outstanding 0.70 ERA in 39 appearances with the team last year, while the Yankees traded for Caleb Ferguson from the Dodgers.
Although Brasier and Ferguson are talented pitchers with late-inning experience, they don’t possess the same level of pedigree as Hader. While it’s possible for either team to make further additions to their relief corps before the start of the season, the options in free agency are limited. One remaining option is former Astros pitcher Ryne Stanek, who has a solid 2.90 ERA over the past three seasons. However, most of the available pitchers in the market are bounceback candidates like Brad Hand and Mychal Givens.
If the Dodgers or Yankees decide to strengthen their bullpen in the coming weeks, one potential option is Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen. The Dodgers were previously linked to Jansen, who spent twelve seasons with the team before joining the Braves in 2022. Although the Yankees haven’t been connected to Jansen, it’s worth noting their increased willingness to trade with their longtime AL East rivals. Jansen, a 14-year MLB veteran with 420 career saves and a 3.63 ERA, would be an upgrade for either team’s relief mix. However, his contract for the final year of this season amounts to a hefty $16MM.
According to the Source mlbtraderumors.com