Astros Sign New York Yankees Top Free Agent Target, Superstar Closer
The Houston Astros just became a lot scarier, while the New York Yankees missed out on transforming their bullpen into an elite unit.
The Astros have signed superstar closer Josh Hader to a five-year, $95 million deal that includes a full no-trade clause, no opt outs and no club options.
ESPN insider Jeff Passan was the first to report this news.
Hader now receives the second-largest deal in MLB history for a reliever. New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz holds this record with a five-year, $102 million contract.
There were rumors swirling that the Yankees could go after Hader to make him their closer, shifting Clay Holmes to a setup role. This move would’ve made sense since the Yankees’ starting rotation is thin and they would have been able to shorten the game by adding Hader and making their bullpen elite.
Alas, the Yankees will now have to look elsewhere for relief pitching and they won’t be able to do better than Hader, the game’s best closer.
To make matters worse, Hader lands with one of the Yankees’ biggest rivals in the AL in the Astros.
Overall, letting Hader go to Houston was a big miss by GM Brian Cashman and co., and a decision that might come back to bite the Yankees in a potential postseason series.
