Astros $95 million signing gets mild grade after disappointing 2024

The Houston Astros watched their season come to an end at the hands of the Detroit Tigers in the American League Wild Card round earlier this month.

The team won 88 games and secured yet another AL West crown but were unable to advance to their eighth straight ALCS.

One of their key moves last offseason season was the signing of closer Josh Hader. They gave the veteran left-hander a five-year, $95 million deal.

Hader had a decent season in 2024, posting a 3.80 ERA. But he wasn't quite his usual self. Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report gave Houston a C minus grade for this signing.

"Josh Hader's first season in Houston was mostly respectable. Eight losses for a closer is a lot, but the Astros brought him into a tie game on 18 occasions during the regular season. He went 34-for-38 on save chances, though, which is a solid conversion rate," Miller wrote.

"Hader gave up a lot of home runs, though. A dozen of them, in fact, resulting in the second-worst ERA of his career."

Again, Hader had a decent 2024 season, but he wasn't his usual dominant self. The Astros themselves had an interesting season too, starting off 7-19 before climbing out of their hole and cruising to another AL West title.

The veteran left-hander will certainly be a key piece of the puzzle next season as the Astros try to bounce back from their playoff disappointment. But it is easy to see why this move received a middling grade after Hader didn't put together his best season.

We'll see if he can bounce back in 2025.

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