The Los Angeles Dodgers entered Sunday’s action with a 25-10 record and as the obvious favorites to win the World Series. One might think that the team is completely set after adding former AL MVP Mookie Betts in a trade this past offseason.
That’s apparently not the case. According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, Los Angeles is interested in one of baseball’s best closers, Brewers All-Star Josh Hader.
This is no small thing in that the 26-year-old Hader would add another elite arm to a Dodgers bullpen that has been dominant thus far this season.
The two-time All-Star has pitched to a 2.39 ERA and 0.86 WHIP en route to saving 56 games in three-plus seasons in the majors. This year alone, Hader has posted a 1.86 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. If Los Angeles is able to bring in the flame-thrower, it would only add to the game’s best bullpen.
- Kenley Jansen: 1.23 ERA
- Blake Treinen: 1.20 ERA
- Dylan Floro: 0.61 ERA
- Caleb Ferguson: 0.63 ERA
The Brewers are said to be open to trading Hader after posting a mediocre 15-17 start to the season. Although, it would take a lot to pry him away from Milwaukee.
Not only is Hader among the best relief pitchers in baseball, he’s under team control through the 2023 campaign. That will make him among the most highly coveted assets leading up to Monday’s MLB trade deadline.
What might a Josh Hader trade look like?
If we’re talking compensation, Los Angeles still boasts a pretty good farm system even after the blockbuster trade for Betts earlier in the year. Any move to acquire the reliever would likely cost at least one, if not two, top-10 prospects. The Brewers could demand one of the team’s top pitching prospects, including Josiah Gray.
It’s also possible that the Brewers demand a youngster in Brusdar Graterol, who has pitched to a 2.77 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 13 relief appearances this season.
Either way, any trade involving Hader would be among the biggest during a deadline period that is completely different than previous seasons.
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