Generally, I dislike signing relievers to significant contracts from a club’s perspective. But there are instances when, much like last year’s Astros with Josh Hader, a team identifies a need and downplays the financial consequences to sign the best available player. To be clear, I wasn’t a massive fan of Hader’s signing then, and that remains the case today. But I also don’t hate it, if that makes sense. I recognize Houston’s motivation last winter to address a bullpen that was already besieged with some untimely injuries. Pitfalls exist with Hader, as the 2024 can attest to with his varied performance, yet he made the team better in its competitive cycle for 2024.
Do The Astros Actually Need To Acquire Another Leverage Reliever?
