josh hader

The Houston Astros have signed star closer Josh Hader to a 5-year $95 Million deal. Jake and Jordan break down the signing, ponder why the Astros have finally decided to spend big money on a free agent, and debate how much this will actually help the Astros. Then, the guys touch on the Angels signing of Robert Stephenson, talk about Anthony Rendon’s comments on the baseball season being too long (and his well-known love-hate relationship with the game of baseball), and explain why Boston Red Sox fans are (rightly) furious.

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With Jake still in Australia, he and Jordan discuss the kind of moves we haven’t seen yet in this offseason, what could be the most compelling outcome for Josh Hader, and Joey Votto feeling like Sandra Bullock in Gravity. Then, they talk through Mariners signing catcher Mitch Garver, and some Blue Jays and White Sox moves.  

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MLB closer Josh Hader signed for $40,000 after being chosen in the 18th round of 2012 MLB Draft out of high school. 10-plus years, seven big league seasons and three trades later, the lefty has been on the last five NL All-Star teams,  he is MLB's all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings with 15.0, as well as batting average against at .156. "Haderade" and show host Matt Stucko go way back to Hader's days in the minors and Stucko covering top prospects. While Hader was never a highly-touted prospect, the two hit it off when they met in Lakewood, NJ during Hader's Single-A days and they kept in touch supporting each other every step of the way to their current day success. Hader hops onto the show to talk about his career, off-field ventures and more with Stucko on this episode of Keep Swinging.

Mat Germain returns to BaseballBiz On Deck to give a dive into the Rays as they enter the final months of the season 

• Mat working has been working on Rescues in Nova Scotia & Halifax
• Fred McGriff’s & Scott Rolen trek to the Hall of Fame – a respected player
• Pete Rose should be allowed in with a disclaimer
• “American Gladiators” – steroids & muscle v marketing – shades of Mark McGwire
• HOF made it work for Roberto Malomar – museum should chronicle history with achievements & failings
• Tampa Bay Rays have “Blown Up” – What Gives?
• Roberto Malomar spit and Hall of Fame
• The Writers have a fine line on who they can select for the Hall of Fame
• Celebrate Pete Rose inducted into the Hall of Fame with 
• 5 starter pitchers are solid but Rays could add 1 more 
• Expectations for return of Andrew Kittredge
• Perhaps Padres – Josh Hader & Seth Lugo
• Lackadaisical lineup 
• Randyland & the Benching of Franco – what gives?
• Leadership is needed with the Rays – remember Charlie Morton
• Avengers Assemble - Rays Assemble - find some unity
• Lance Lynn is a good example of leadership and never say die attitude
• Rays prospects, players, potential trades & churn
• Jonathan Aranda, Vidal Brujan, Osleivis Basabe
• Is Shohei Ohtani an option – what would Arte Moreno want
• Mark is unhappy to see Pete Fairbanks pitch 3 games straight
• Andrew Kittredge & Colby White could be the answer
• Trop sells out – Mariners & Orioles games
• At 2022 it looked like losing was acceptable to Kevin Cash
• Plea to Kevin Cash – put your instinct before the analytics
• Looking for some Grit & Fire from the Rays
• Mat & Mark are adjusting their Win Loss projections for the Rays 
• RaysUp

Special Thanks to Mat Germain. Mat can be found on Twitter @Mat_Germain_   Mark can be found on Twitter @TheBaseballBiz
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Thanks to Tampa Baseball Museum for their continuous support.
  
 Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking Forward"

The MLB trade deadline came and went and there was no shortage of surprising moves - by the Cubs and around the league.

Juan Soto and Josh Hader are among the stars switching teams while the Cubs held on to a pair of stars of their own in Willson Contreras and Ian Happ.

Even one of the moves the Cubs did make - trading away young reliever Scott Effross - was surprising, though the trio of veterans shipped out was predictable.

Our panel of Elise Menaker, Andy Martinez and Tony Andracki break down all the deadline madness and how it affects the Cubs moving forward.

Full rundown:

00:35 - Trivia

03:10 - Reaction to Contreras/Happ remaining with Cubs

09:29 - How does this affect the final two months of the Cubs' season?

14:46 - Is Contreras now more likely to sign an extension with the Cubs?

18:22 - Jed Hoyer on the Cubs' deadline haul

20:29 - What stands out to you most about the Cubs' deals?

28:35 - Who needs to step up for the Cubs post-deadline?

33:41 - What surprised you most about the deadline?

37:25 - How did the Soto trade impact the market for the Cubs?