Orioles Can Pursue All-Star Closer As He Turns Down Offer
A closer that the Baltimore Orioles could go all in on in free agency has turned down his qualifying offer from the San Diego Padres.
Josh Hader, considered the top closer on the free-agent market, will now go after a multi-year contract after passing on a guaranteed $20.325 million in 2024.
He had until Tuesday evening to make a decision. By turning down the qualifying offer, the Padres are now entitled to draft-pick compensation.
Hader could be an answer to the Orioles’ question at closer. Félix Bautista was the Orioles closer in 2023, and he had a fine season, racking up 33 saves with a 1.48 ERA and an 8-2 record.
But, late in the season, Bautista suffered an arm injury that led to him having Tommy John surgery, which will keep him out for the entire 2024 season.
That left the Orioles with a big hole in their bullpen.
Enter Hader, who is reportedly hoping to get more than the five-year, $102 million deal that New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz got last offseason. That deal comes with an opt-out in 2026.
Hader has been one of baseball’s best closers since 2018, when he became an All-Star for the first time as he went 6-1 with a 2.43 ERA and racked up 12 saves.
Since then, Hader has gone to four more All-Star Games, including in 2023, and has gone 20-21 with a 2.50 ERA and 165 saves.
If the Orioles were to land Hader, he would be the backstop for a young rotation that could include Dean Kremer, Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez and Tyler Wells. The Orioles are also believed to be pursuing a big-name starter, perhaps Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola, who was also given the qualifying offer and turned it down.
Another free-agent starter that has been connected to the Orioles is Detroit’s Eduardo Rodriguez.
By getting Hader, he could give the rotation a lot of security in 2024.
