good news:astros has sign a star to five years contract over $95 million..

The Houston Astros have officially completed their first major move of the offseason, signing one of the game’s top closers to a lucrative contract.

Josh Hader, who pitched to a dazzling 1.28 ERA in 56 1/3 innings pitched with the San Diego Padres last season, is now taking his talents to the Lone Star State to pitch for the Houston Astros.

Hader, 29, aims to become the highest-paid reliever in MLB history this offseason, surpassing Edwin Diaz’s five-year, $102 million contract signed last winter. While Hader’s deal is less than Diaz’s in total dollars, it is more valuable in terms of present money.

As Shohei Ohtani demonstrated this summer, deferrals reduce the present value of a contract, reducing the impact on a team’s luxury tax payroll.

In Diaz’s situation, the Mets delayed $26.5 million over ten years, reducing the contract’s present value from $102 million to approximately $93 million.

Keeping this in mind, Hader’s contract is theoretically the biggest ever for a relief pitcher, considering there are no deferrals involved.

Hader will be a part of the Houston Astros for the second time, having previously done so in 2013. Hader, who was drafted 19th overall by the Baltimore Orioles in 2012, was sold to Houston at the 2013 trade deadline in exchange for Bud Norris.

A few trade deadlines later, Hader was one of four prospects sent to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015, along with Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers to the Astros. Now, nearly a decade later, Hader is joining the Astros as one of the game’s most successful closers.