Hey, at least the Giants owned him earlier this season?
That’s the tune you’re singing if you’re looking for a silver lining to Monday morning’s news that the San Diego Padres have reportedly acquired one of the best closers in baseball, Josh Hader, in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers.
In return the Padres sent four players to the Brewers: Left-handed closer Taylor Rogers, lefty pitching prospect Robert Gasser, outfielder Esteury Ruiz and right-hander Dinelson Lamet. That’s a big haul, but San Diego was able to keep the top prospects that other teams have coveted in deadline deals.
That fact should scare Giants fans, as it means that San Diego could still conceivably put together a package for Juan Soto. The Padres have been reported as the favorites to land the slugger in recent weeks.
As far as Hader is concerned, he’s an absolute stud. Since his debut in 2017, Hader is a four-time All-Star and three-time Reliever of the Year. Hader’s 4.24 ERA isn’t all that impressive this season, but he still leads the league with 29 saves and his 1.11 WHIP is probably a better indicator of how he’s pitched.
Part of Hader’s ERA inflation has to do with a nightmare ninth inning vs. the Giants earlier this season, when he gave up six earned runs and blew a save despite entering with a 5-2 lead. It was the worst ninth inning of Hader’s career.
The Giants will hope that was the beginning of a trend rather than a one-off.