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Astros spring bombshell: Manager Joe Espada reveals major news

Astros Joe Espada
Josh Hader will close games for Houston, not Ryan Pressly. Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.

Newly signed Josh Hader will close for the Astros and incumbent Ryan Pressly will move into a setup role, new manager Joe Espada said as Houston started spring training workouts Wednesday.

Hader, a five-time All-Star, agreed Jan. 22 to a $95 million, five-year contract. The left-hander, who turns 30 on April 7, displaced Pressly, a 35-year-old right-hander who had 102 saves for the Astros in the last four seasons.

Espada said he met with Hader and Pressly in his office to inform them of his decision.

“It went well,’’ Espada said. “Both guys want what’s best for this team. I think the ultimate goal is to hold the trophy at the end of the year.’’

Hader returned to the Astros organization after spending two years in their minor league system from mid-2013 through mid-2015.

“They’ve both been successful. I feel more comfortable giving Hader that opportunity since he’s shown his ability to do it," Espada said. “Same as Pressly. It’s just Pressly won’t pitch the ninth inning. ... I don’t want to put words in Pressly’s mouth but everything I got from him was that he’s on board.”

Hader said he spoke with Pressly, a two-time All-Star, around the time of his agreement.

“The goal is to build that relationship and win ballgames," he said. "A lot of things can get stirred up on the outside and paint a picture that’s not it. But for him and I, we’ve had a great relationship so far and (we) continue to build off that.’’

“Ultimately, in the game of baseball, roles are very important,’’ Hader added. “We have routines. When you’re able to get in that routine and knowing what you have to accomplish, you can perform better because you know what you have to do.’’

Houston's bullpen also includes 26-year-old right-hander Bryan Abreu.

“The back three is solid,’’ Hader said. “But even the guys that fill the spots in the front part of it are just important as the back three. I think we have guys who can fill that role just fine and put us in the spot to win games and bridge the gap to the back end.’’

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How will Soto's massive contract impact the Astros?Composite Getty Image.

Over the weekend, the big domino finally fell with Juan Soto agreeing to a 15-year, $765 million megadeal with the New York Mets. Which means Alex Bregman and the other top free agents on the market should soon follow in short order.

In fact, we're already seeing reports from Rob Bradford of WEEI and USA Today’s Bob Nightengale claiming that the Red Sox and Yankees are “expected” to make a run at Bregman.

Soto heading to the National League certainly feels like a win for Astros fans, but that could change if missing out on Soto causes the Yankees to pry Breggy away from Houston.

We'll have to wait and see how this plays out before we get too excited. However, one thing is for sure, all the free agents on the market have to be thrilled about the size of Soto's deal. Not to mention Willy Adames' 7-year, $182 million deal with the Giants that could help Bregman's chances of receiving a more lucrative deal than the Astros reportedly offered him, 6- years, $154 million.

What's really eye-opening about Soto's contract is how it could impact Framber Valdez and Kyle Tucker, specifically Tucker. It's hard to imagine Tucker won't get an offer of at least $300 million, and at this point $400 million wouldn't surprise us.

Historically, the Astros don't trade their big name free agents before their contracts expire, but perhaps they should rethink that approach with King Tuck. If they won't even entertain a deal approaching $300 million, it might be worth taking a step back this year to replenish the farm system and focus on the team long-term.

Speaking of trades, the Astros are reportedly calling anyone who will listen about the availability of Ryan Pressly.

Don't miss the video above as we react to the Soto deal, share our thoughts on how it could impact the Astros championship window, and much more!

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