Astros rumor makes trade plans clear on $95 million lefty closer

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Astros rumor makes trade plans clear on $95 million lefty closer originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Houston Astros are 47-50 on the regular season heading into the final day before the MLB All-Star break. While that's not an ideal record, being under .500, in the weak AL West, the Astros are just 2.0 games back. In the wild card, they're 0.5 games back.

This Astros team might not be trade deadline sellers as they appeared to be headed towards earlier this season. Instead, this team might even be buyers, with left-handed hitting outfielders their top need.

When it comes to $95 million lefty closer Josh Hader, who was rumored to be a trade chip this season, it should come as little surprise that, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Astros are not making Hader available for trade.

Astros' Josh Hader is not available for trade this summer​

"Hader, who is in the third year of a five-year, $95 million contract, is not available in trade talks," Nightengale writes.

The Astros are close enough to a postseason spot that it wouldn't be a surprise if they were buyers, rather than sellers, despite their sub .500 record.

But, even if they do sell, Hader, in the third year of his five-year, $95 million contract, doesn't look likely to be dealt this summer.

The August 3 trade deadline is a time for the Astros to add, and even if some MLB-level players are traded, it's not going to be someone as key as Hader.

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The left-handed closer, who has a 0.59 ERA this season with 1.0 bWAR and a 3-0 record and 10 saves in 16 outings and 15.1 innings, is not likely to be on his way out this season.

Hader is likely to be an Astro by the end of the season, as Nightengale's report makes it clear the Astros closer is not available for trade.

What's important to note is that Nightengale isn't even noting that the Astros will entertain trade offers, like the report he gave to Michael Wacha of the Kansas City Royals.

Houston is not planning to trade Hader this summer, as the five-time All-Star isn't even available for teams to make trade calls on.

More MLB news:​

• Cubs ‘realistic’ trade idea sends Seiya Suzuki to the Mariners for Luis Castillo
• Phillies trade idea lands Jung Hoo Lee and Robbie Ray from Giants for 2 prospects
• Yankees trade idea sends Carlos Lagrange to Athletics for utilityman Zack Gelof
• What happened to Shohei Ohtani? Why Dodgers star won't pitch tonight, or play in All-Star Game
• Cardinals sign JJ Wetherholt to eight-year, $112.5 million contract extension

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