Pressly on Hader as new closer: 'He makes our team better'

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The long-awaited response from Astros reliever Ryan Pressly on the signing of free-agent closer Josh Hader was exactly what you would have expected. Pressly said Thursday he’s willing to pitch in any role that will help Houston win another World Series ring, and the addition of Hader puts the Astros in a better position to do that.

Pressly was informed Tuesday by first-year manager Joe Espada that Hader will get the ninth inning if both pitchers are available, which means Hader is the team’s new closer. Pressly, who excelled in that role the past four seasons, will pitch in a setup role. He’s on board with it considering Hader is one of the most dominant closers in baseball.

“I think we’ve got a great bullpen, probably one of the best bullpens in the league,” Pressly said. “I get paid to go get three outs. It don’t matter if it’s in the fourth inning or the ninth inning. Whenever the phone rings and they tell me to get in there, I’ll get in there.”

Pressly had been the Astros closer since the 2020 season and is one of only six relievers to compile at least 100 saves since, including 31 in 37 chances last year in the regular season. An All-Star with Houston in 2019 and 2021, he’s saved 89 games the last three seasons and is a perfect 14-for-14 in save chances in the postseason, including the clinching Game 6 of the 2022 World Series.

Hader has saved 165 of 190 career opportunities with the Brewers and Padres, including a career-high 37 saves in 2019 for Milwaukee and 33 in 38 chances last year for the Padres. He posted a 1.28 ERA in 56 1/3 innings and held opposing hitters to a .163 average and just a .224 slugging percentage in ‘23. Hader has averaged 15 strikeouts per nine innings for his career.

“I think he’s a great teammate,” Pressly said. “We’ve been laughing and cutting up. His son and my son both like the same things, so I think it’s going to be a really fun time. We’re close-knit guys down in the bullpen, man. If you can have those guys down there and everybody coexist, it’s a fun time. I think he brings that to our bullpen.”

Pressly and Hader had never met prior to arriving at Spring Training this week, though they had talked on the phone. Hader said Pressly has been someone he’s looked up to from afar.

“This guy, you’ve seen what he’s done in the postseason,” Hader said. “No matter what he does, he’s a guy you want on your side and you want to learn from.”

The Astros reached a five-year, $95 million deal with Hader on Jan. 19. Pressly said someone from the Astros called and let him know they were pursuing Hader, and Hader called Pressly shortly after the deal was done.

“Yeah, it was a surprise, but he makes our team better,” Pressly said. “He’s hands down one of the best relievers in the game. When you add him to our bullpen, we’re just that much better now. I’m happy he’s here, I’m happy I get to share a bullpen with him. It’s going to be a fun time. He seems like a great teammate, and I’m happy to be here with him.”

The transparency from Astros management, both when the club was pursing Hader and on Tuesday when Espada called both pitchers into his office to tell them their roles, is much appreciated by Pressly.

“If we’re able to communicate, there’s not going to be any head-scratching,” Pressly said. “As long as we communicate, everything is going to be good.”

Pressly, 35, is the longest-tenured member of an Astros bullpen that has undergone some significant transition this offseason. The club lost Hector Neris, Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek -- who combined for 185 innings last year -- to free agency, and Kendall Graveman had surgery last month and is out for the season.

The signing of Hader was a huge piece (the club had earlier traded for Dylan Coleman from the Royals), but there’s going to be more competition for bullpen spots than there has been in years past. With Hader as closer and Pressly and Bryan Abreu in setup roles, the Astros at least know they have one of the best back-end bullpen combinations.

“As long as we’re holding the trophy at the end of the year, that’s all that matters,” Pressly said. “I just want to win.”