Houston power move: Astros making waves with massive free agent splash

SWEET RELIEF!

Houston power move: Astros making waves with massive free agent splash
Astros sign Josh Hader. Composite Getty Image.

Hard-throwing reliever Josh Hader and the Houston Astros agreed to a $95 million, five-year contract on Friday, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical.

Hader will get a $19 million salary in each of the next five seasons, none of it deferred. He gets a full no-trade provision and would receive a $1 million bonus for winning the Mariano Rivera/Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year Award.

Hader's deal can be considered the most lucrative for a relief pitcher, even while shorting fall of the total dollars in Edwin Díaz’s $102 million, five-year contract with the New York Mets that began last year. Díaz’s deal includes $26.5 million in deferred payments he won’t completely receive until 2042 and was valued at $93.2 million for baseball's luxury tax and $88.8 million by the players' association.

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Don't be surprised when the Rockets make a bold move. Photo via: Wiki Commons.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the heart of the Houston Rockets’ offseason — the trade rumors, the dream scenarios, and the hard questions every fan is asking right now. Whether it's chasing stars or shuffling the role players, nothing is off the table.

We start by taking a serious look at Donovan Mitchell — is he the kind of talent worth giving up a major package for, or would he disrupt the current build? From there, we shift to the impact of injuries on trade value and ask: who should the Rockets move, and what’s the realistic return?

We’re also talking big picture: what are the Rockets actually missing to make the leap? Is it scoring? Defense? Veteran leadership?

Then there’s the Ace Bailey debate — is he the future or fool’s gold? We break down the hype vs. reality.

And of course, we had to touch on the Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors. If he’s committed to staying in the East, does that shut down any Houston hope — or was that pipe dream already dead?

Finally, we explore a wild card: Jrue Holiday to Houston. Could his leadership and defense be the missing piece? Or is it just a mismatch?

Plenty of hot takes, real questions, and trade-machine madness. Let’s talk Rockets.

Don't miss the video below as ESPN Houston's Jeremy Branham and Joel Blank break it all down.

*ChatGPT assisted.

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