Will the Yankees go after Josh Hader?
The left-hander is the top available reliever and has been linked to New York since he hit the open market. And in naming potential fits for remaining free agents, Jim Bowden of The Athletic said the Yankees are Hader’s best match.
The Yankees pivoted from their pursuit of Blake Snell and instead signed Marcus Stroman to a two-year, $37 million deal, which Bowden says should leave payroll space to sign Hader: “a signing that would allow them to use Clay Holmes in a set-up role, where he’s better suited,” Bowden wrote.
Bowden also named the Rangers and Phillies as “realistic” landing spots for the 29-year-old. He wrote that for both the Yankees and Rangers, a Hader pursuit would depend on if they were to land another starter — if not, both clubs would have money freed up to go after Hader, who is looking for a deal that exceeds Edwin Díaz’s five-year, $102 million contract with the Mets.
Hader, a five-time All-Star, recorded a 1.28 ERA and 33 saves in 61 appearances with the Padres in 2023.
