The Milwaukee Brewers just traded their All-Star, 28-year-old closer to the San Diego Padres.
Other facts of the transaction: the first-place Brewers flipped a pitcher who owns a career 2.48 ERA to a second-place team for a four-player package.
MLB is often a weird league.
However, that doesn’t mean the Brewers lost the trade.
In fact, according to the their general manager, the goal is still to bring in a World Series trophy to Milwaukee at some point in the near future.
“Milwaukee #Brewers GM David Stearns on the Josh Hader trade: ‘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,’” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweeted.
Milwaukee #Brewers GM David Stearns on the Josh Hader trade: “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.”
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 1, 2022
Brewers GM Prioritized The Mix Of Prospects And MLB-Ready Players He Received
The Brewers got a good late-inning option in Taylor Rogers, a high-upside, power-speed center fielder in Esteury Ruiz, a talented yet injury prone arm in Dinelson Lamet, and a good prospect in Robert Gasser.
All in all, the package is not bad at all.
Hader has a 4.24 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP, but the vast majority of scouts, evaluators, managers, executives, coaches, players, and fans firmly believe he will finish the year with much, much better numbers.
Whether the players the Brewers received can offer the same impact as Hader remains very much in question, but Milwaukee sold on one of the best relievers in recent memory and brought in some useful players in return.
The Padres will bring in some stability to the late innings with Hader, who also offers a tasty strikeout upside.
It could be the rare trade that benefits both parties.
