In a stunning move, the Milwaukee Brewers have shipped their All-Star closer Josh Hader out of town.
Hader is headed to the San Diego Padres in exchange for lefty Taylor Rogers, right-hander Dinelson Lamet, and prospects Robert Gasser and Esteury Ruiz.
While the Brewers are getting a pretty hefty return for their All-Star closer, many around the league are left wondering why they would ever think to do this, even after his name had floated around some in trade rumors.
But on Twitter, one Brewers insider, MLB.com reporter Adam McCalvy, provides a little bit of clarity on the situation and why the Brewers would actually go through with this.
Here's why the Brewers would trade Josh Hader, and why they've always listened on him: Balance between win now vs. avoiding another rebuild. Stearns always says he believes best strategy is getting as many "bites of the apple" as possible. Sometimes that means tough decisions.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) August 1, 2022
Making Sense Of The Hader Trade
If you stop and think about it, then sure, maybe it makes sense.
It’s understandable why the front office would want to find a balance between winning now and avoiding another rebuild.
But still, why trade Hader?
The Brewers aren’t like the Tampa Bay Rays.
They play in a bigger market.
They have the financial resources and the prospects to go out and make moves to improve their club.
It’s pretty shocking that they would let the best reliever in baseball go.
At least they’re getting a good return for him.
Of course, the trade deadline sometimes brings tough decisions for any front office.
Sometimes, you have to ship out a fan favorite to improve the club.
But did the Brewers really have to do this?
Hader has without a doubt been one of the best relievers in all of baseball for the past several years.
It just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
You can balance winning now with avoiding another rebuild without trading away superstars.
It’s possible.
NEXT: MLB World Reacts To The Josh Hader Trade