Rangers Key Player Accepted Signing An Extended Contract.

Josh Hader, the star closer, is still a free agent and is allegedly attracting interest from major teams in an attempt to sign a deal that would make him the most paid reliever in Major League Baseball.

“He’s looking for a deal north of Edwin Diaz, so it would be five years, over $100 million, and no club has gone to that ballpark, at least not yet,” CBS Sports’ Jim Bowden reports. However, the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, and Los Angeles Dodgers are the three clubs that are now in action.”

Bowden added a disclaimer to the likelihood that any of those organizations would sign Hader, despite their alleged interest in him.

Bowden observed that all three of those teams would be willing to “pivot” to Hader if their goals were not met. “What is very interesting here, is it appears that all three of those teams prefer to sign a starter or trade for a starting pitcher rather than getting a closer,” Bowden stated.

After being acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers at the 2022 trade deadline, Hader made waves with the San Diego Padres in 2023. With 33 saves, the five-time All-Star tied for sixth place in the majors and finished with a 1.28 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 85 strikeouts in 56.1 innings pitched.

Hader, the three-time NL Reliever of the Year, would be a valuable addition to any team hoping to challenge for the World Series championship in the upcoming season and beyond. Furthermore, Bowden expressed his belief that Hader “will be a difference maker for whichever team that gets him.”

Which team will be prepared to accede to Hader’s contract demands is still up in the air. Giving away a deal like the one Diaz signed with the New York Mets probably doesn’t seem all that appealing, especially considering that Diaz’s knee injury sustained during the World Baseball Classic prevented him from playing in 2023.