The San Diego Padres’ A.J. Preller made his first move of the trade deadline, acquiring four-time All-Star and three-time N.L. reliever of the year Josh Hader from the Milwaukee Brewers for a four-player package that includes left-handed closer Taylor Rogers, right-handed reliever Dinelson Lamet, left-handed starter Robert Gasser (Padres’ no. 7 prospect) and outfielder Esteury Ruiz (no. 28), per multiple reports.
Hader, 28, has posted a 2.48 ERA over six seasons with the Brewers, winning relief pitcher of the year in 2018, 2019, and 2021, while being named to the N.L. All-Star team in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. He had his best season to date in 2021, owning a 1.23 ERA in 58 ⅔ innings last season. His 15.6 strikeouts-per-9 was second to his 2018 season where he had a 15.8 clip (and finished seventh in Cy Young voting).
This season, Hader has a less-than-compelling 4.24 ERA, but excluding a three-day stretch where he gave up nine runs in ⅓ inning, he has a 1.87 ERA. His strikeout rate is the same as last year’s at 15.6 strikeouts-per-9 and has the stuff that the Padres have lacked for a long time for a closer. He also has one more year of control left.
Rogers, 31, is a free agent after this season. He had a 0.49 ERA on May 27, but since then has posted an 8.14 ERA and 2.79 FIP in 21 innings pitched since then. He was removed from the Padres’ closer role after back-to-back blown saves in Detroit Tuesday and Wednesday of last week.
Lamet, 30, came onto the scene in 2017 and came back in 2019 after going through Tommy John surgery. The right-handed flamethrower finished fourth in Cy Young voting in 2020 where he posted a 2.09 ERA, but after dealing with arm issues in the 2020 playoffs, he’s been on and off the injured list and struggled while he was on the big-league team the past two seasons.
Gasser, 23, is San Diego’s no. 7-ranked prospect. The left-hander has a 4.58 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 90 innings with High-A Fort Wayne this season. The 2021 second-round pick also strikes out 11.5 hitters per nine. MLB Pipeline gave him a 50 (out of 60) grade and estimates a 2024 MLB debut.
Ruiz, 23, led baseball of all levels with 60 stolen bases before getting the big-league call-up on July 12. The former second-baseman-now-outfielder has elite speed and had a .467 on-base percentage between Double-A and Triple-A. He hit .222/.222/.333 in 27 plate appearances with the Padres before the trade.
With their first deal of the trade deadline done, the Padres add a flamethrowing closer, something the team has lacked, and finds their closer for the next season and a half while losing payroll in the process. Once Pierce Johnson, Drew Pomeranz, and Robert Suarez return from their injuries, the Padres could have one of the best bullpens in baseball again.