Josh Hader, the $95 million lefty closer, isn't going anywhere, and that news just put a whole new spin on the AL West. According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Houston Astros are flat out not making Hader available for trade this summer. What a turn of events, right? For a team sitting at 47-50 on the regular season heading into the All-Star break, being under .500 usually screams "SELL!" But not for these guys, apparently.
Astros Playing Hardball With Their Closer
You'd think a sub-.500 record means the Astros would be looking to offload high-value assets. Forget it. They're just 2.0 games back in the "weak AL West" and a tiny 0.5 games back in the wild card race. That's close enough for them to think they're buyers, not sellers, with their top need being left-handed hitting outfielders. Hader, who is in the third year of a five-year, $95 million contract, is too key to their plans, even if they do end up moving some other MLB-level players before the August 3 trade deadline. Nightengale's report made it crystal clear: Hader isn't available for trade talks, and they aren't even entertaining offers, unlike some other players around the league.Hader's Numbers Make Him Untouchable
Honestly, looking at Hader's season, it's not a huge shock they want to keep him around. The lefty closer has been lights out with a sparkling 0.59 ERA this season. Add to that a 1.0 bWAR, a 3-0 record, and 10 saves in 16 outings covering 15.1 innings, and you see why he's considered untouchable. The guy is a five-time All-Star for a reason, and the Astros believe he's the closer who can help them make a run. It means we're going to keep seeing him on the mound for them, which is a tough pill to swallow for anyone else in the division. So, the Astros are digging in, planning to add to their roster instead of tearing it down. This Hader news means the AL West race is going to be even more of a grind right through the summer. Get ready for some wild baseball, because those guys aren't backing down, and we're not even talking about hypothetical trades like that "realistic" Cubs idea to send Seiya Suzuki to the Mariners for Luis Castillo. The focus is squarely on Houston's decision to play for it right now.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.