Josh Hader Stats
- Height / Weight
- 5' 11" / 180 lbs.
- Date of Birth (Age)
- 4/7/1994 (29)
- Experience
- 6
- College
- None
Josh Hader Season Stats
Last 10 Games
Josh Hader News
The Texas Rangers are considered the heavy favorites to sign free-agent closer Josh Hader this offseason. The Philadelphia Phillies have shown little appetite for Hader, which should especially be true after they signed re-signed right-hander Aaron Nola to a big long-term deal on Sunday. The Rangers are looking to upgrade the back end of their bullpen this winter after just winning the first World Series championship in franchise history. The 29-year-old Hader is one of the most dominant closers in baseball and is coming off his fifth All-Star campaign in his first full year with the San Diego Padres in which he had a stingy 1.28 ERA (2.69 FIP), 1.10 WHIP, 33 saves, 30 walks and 85 strikeouts in 56 1/3 relief innings.
MLB Network insider Jon Morosi reported Monday that the Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies have emerged as the top candidates to sign free-agent relief pitcher Josh Hader. The left-hander is the clear top bullpen arm on the free-agent market this offseason, converting 33 of 38 save opportunities with a 1.28 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 36.8% strikeout rate in 2023 with the Padres. Despite winning the World Series, late-inning security was an issue throughout the regular season for the Rangers, and the Phillies struggled to close games out in the playoffs. Hader has been a top fantasy player throughout his career and either landing spot would be a great fit from that perspective.
The San Diego Padres officially extended a $20.325 million qualifying offer to left-handed closer Josh Hader, ensuring they will receive draft-pick compensation if he departs to another team in free agency this offseason. Hader is expected to decline the offer and seek a bigger deal on the open market this winter. At 29 years old, Hader remains one of the most dominant closers in the game. He was an All-Star for the fifth straight season (not counting 2020) and had a shiny 1.28 ERA (2.69 FIP) and 1.10 WHIP with 33 saves, 30 walks and 85 strikeouts in 56 1/3 relief innings over 61 appearances out of the Padres bullpen. Wherever Hader is pitching in 2024, he's almost certainly going to be a full-time closer and a high-end fantasy closer.
Josh Hader Stats
Last 10 Games
San Diego Padres left-hander Josh Hader had a rollercoaster year in 2022. He converted 36 saves but posted career-highs with a 5.22 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. Most of the damage happened after the deadline deal, struggling to a 7.31 ERA on the West Coast and temporarily losing the closer role. Hader's 3.45 FIP sticks out, though, as he struck out 37.0% of batters faced while walking just 9.6%. It wasn't his best season in terms of punchouts, but he posted a 41.6% strikeout rate in the first half and was back up to 55.6% in the postseason. Hader's three-pitch mix of sinker, slider, and changeup had similar break and movement from past years, while his sinker and slider reached a career-high 97.4 MPH and 84.0 MPH, respectively. The 28-year-old struggled with keeping the ball in the park, but his high barrel rate of 11.5% was only the fourth-highest of his career, and his 1.44 HR/9 wasn't even his worst mark as a big leaguer. Batters hit .225 and slugged .403 off of Hader this season, but his Statcast numbers faired much better (.196 xBA, .359 xSLG). Additionally, playing his home games at Petco Park (95 home run factor) will only improve his numbers after spending five and a half years at American Family Field (114 home run factor). The four-time All-Star has been up and down before. Although there was more down than up in 2022, Hader settled in as a Padre and ended his exile from closer duties, saving six games in September and four in the playoffs. Fantasy managers should expect another Hader-like year in 2023 while compiling north of 30 saves on a top team in the National League. He's the fourth reliever off the board (36 ADP) and is arguably better value than the preceding arm of Emmanuel Clase (26 ADP).
