The Texas Rangers are now seen as the favourites to sign Josh Hader, the best closer available on the free agent market. Hader was also being pursued by the Philadelphia Phillies, who have reportedly expressed little interest in signing him. Instead, in an unexpected turn of events, the Phillies signed pitcher Aaron Nola to a seven-year, $172 million contract, which might have made it easier for the Rangers to acquire their much-needed closer.

Hader and his representative are aiming for a contract that is more than Edwin Diaz’s $102 million, five-year agreement with the New York Mets from the previous season. The Rangers would be getting one of the most dependable closing pitchers in the game, but it would come at a hefty price. Though he won’t be 30 until April of next year, Hader has regularly produced excellent work and been chosen for numerous All-Star games.

With just 30 saves in 2023, the Rangers ranked 27th in Major League Baseball due to their struggles in the closer position. They were the first club to qualify for the playoffs with a save percentage of less than 50%, and they had more missed saves than made ones. They were still able to win the World Series nonetheless. Although the organisation chose to sign José Leclerc’s 2024 contract option, they will probably look to add more bullpen depth.

The Rangers have a great foundation with pitchers like Max Scherzer, Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney, and Dane Dunning already under contract, even though they still need to secure their starting rotation. Moreover, Jordan Montgomery might be re-signed, and Jacob deGrom might make a comeback in 2024 after recuperating from Tommy John surgery. The Rangers would significantly improve the stability and potency of their pitching staff in the upcoming season if they added Hader to their roster.