Latest Josh Hader injury news has Astros hoping he isn’t another huge payroll mistake

Eric Cole

Aug 5, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Josh Hader (71) celebrates defeating the Miami Marlins following the game at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images / Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

The Houston Astros have a well-earned reputation for handing out some true stinkers when it comes to contracts. While the Anthony Rendon and Kris Bryant deals are the gold standard of terrible contracts, Houston has certainly inked some duds, including Jose Abreu, Rafael Montero, Lance McCullers Jr., and potentially Christian Walker and Jose Altuve, among others. However, one deal that could be joining the list if things don't turn around is the team's deal with Josh Hader.

When Houston gave Hader a five-year, $95 million deal before the 2024 season, it was the largest contract in terms of present-day value given to any reliever in the history of baseball. If any bullpen arm was going to get that sort of deal, Hader was at or near the top of the list of candidates. Of course, as with any reliever, there was a lot of risk on the Astros' side, especially if Hader couldn't take the field.

That risk is looking more and more spooky right now. After word got out that Hader may not be ready for Opening Day, there is an increasing chance that Hader's injury issues could turn into another regretful contract.

Josh Hader's continued injury concerns should have the Astros worried that they will end up with another albatross around their necks

To be completely fair to the Astros here, almost everyone thought that adding Hader on that deal was a move to be celebrated. Yes, it was pricey for a reliever, and it did cause drama with Ryan Pressly, but Hader has been arguably the best reliever in baseball for years, and he absolutely made Houston's roster better.

At least, that was the theory. Hader put together a solid, if unexciting, first season with the Astros with a 3.80 ERA in 71 appearances. However, most fans probably were expecting more than that, given his track record of dominance and how much Hader was getting paid. Hader's numbers looked better last season on a rate basis, which was encouraging, but he also suffered a shoulder capsule injury that ended his season in August.

Now, Hader is dealing with biceps inflammation that is likely to keep him out past the start of the 2026 season. At $19 million a year, the fact that Hader is about to miss appreciable time in two of the first three years of his deal is making Houston look foolish for trusting him enough to give that deal in the first place. Injuries happen, and they are often not anyone's fault, but the Astros could ill-afford another potential payroll misstep thanks to their own previous mishaps. Now, they could have to confront that reality.

Eric Cole

I started my career writing about baseball covering the Atlanta Braves for SB Nation's Talking Chop back in 2015 which has since been renamed Battery Power. After years of writing for those fine folks, I made the decision to take over as Site Expert at House That Hank Built before becoming a full-time MLB Staff Writer for FanSided in 2023. Along the way, I have been a guest on multiple ESPN radio affiliates as well as 680 The Fan and 92.9 The Game to discuss Braves baseball and especially Braves prospects and was a long-time host on the Battery Power podcast. These days, I continue to write about the Braves as well as covering the Astros, Padres, and Angels with particular expertise with minor league coverage, the MLB Draft, and bashing Anthony Rendon when possible. When I am not writing about or talking about baseball (which is seldom), I am an avid baseball card collector (Maddux and Soroka being my primary personal collections) and I also collect shark teeth. All other sports are mostly dead to me as my Bills have broken my heart too many times.