Brewers Trade Josh Hader To Padres Ahead Of Deadline

The Milwaukee Brewers pulled off the first true blockbuster ahead of Major League Baseball’s annual trade deadline but it wasn’t a deal that most anticipated from the NL Central Division leaders.

Instead of adding an impact bat or power arm for the stretch run, the Brewers sent All-Star closer Josh Hader to the San Diego Padres for a four-player package that includes San Diego’s closer, left-hander Taylor Rogers, right-hander Dinelson Lamet and minor league prospects Robert Gasser and Esteury Ruiz.

“The players we are receiving in this trade help ensure that the future of the Milwaukee Brewers remains bright while not compromising our desire and expectation to win today,” Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns said in a statement announcing the deal. “This mix of present Major League talent and high-level prospects furthers our aim to get as many bites of the apple as possible and, ultimately, to bring a World Series to Milwaukee. Trading good players on good teams is difficult, and that certainly is the case with Josh. We also recognize that to give our organization the best chance for sustained competitiveness, to avoid the extended down periods that so many organizations experience, we must make decisions that are not easy.”

Hader, 28, has been one of baseball’s most dominant relief pitchers since breaking onto the scene as a rookie in 2017 when he posted a 2.08 ERA in 35 appearances and struck out 68 batters over 47 2/3 innings.

He only got better from there and did so while filling several roles: first, as a multi-inning fireman of sorts that bridged the gap between Milwaukee’s starters and lockdown bullpen, then as multi-inning closer before finally settling into a more traditional, one-inning capacity over the last few seasons.

In all, Hader appeared in 269 games for Milwaukee and went 17-17 with a 2.48 ERA and 541 strikeouts in 316 1/3 innings while converting 125 save opportunities.

But all that success comes with a price. In Hader’s case, that was $11 million this season and an estimated $15 million next season, his last before becoming eligible for free agency.

Though owner Mark Attanasio has demonstrated a willingness to open the checkbook over the years, the prospect of shelling out as much as $100 million to sign Hader for the long-term might not make the most sense from a financial standpoint, especially with a long list of players in line for big raises through arbitration this winter.

Replacing Hader won’t be easy but the Brewers have plenty of options starting with the newly-acquired Rogers, who converted 28 of 35 save opportunities before hitting a rough patch that led to him losing the closer’s job over the weekend.

Should the Brewers choose to use Rogers in a different capacity, they could move Devin Williams – who hasn’t allowed a run in 30 consecutive appearances — into the ninth-inning role.

Veterans Brad Boxberger and Jake McGee also have closing experience.

This story will be updated.