A Look Back: The Padres Easily Won the Josh Hader Trade

Although he will no longer don the brown and gold, the Padres won the Hader trade.

The 2022 MLB trade deadline marked a pivotal moment for the San Diego Padres. Their aggressive push to acquire Juan Soto, Josh Bell, and Brandon Drury set the stage for the team's third-ever NLCS appearance, and first since 1998

Soto drew significant attention for his impact on the team, and deservedly so. Drury had a small but meaningful impact in his 46 games, while Bell's .587 OPS in 53 games was utterly forgettable.  

Another key addition often overshadowed was superstar closer Josh Hader, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers for Robert Gasser, Dinelson Lamet, Taylor Rogers and Esteury Ruiz.

Hader recently signed a lucrative contract with the Houston Astros, his tenure with the Padres undeniably made a substantial impact. The trade, executed on Aug. 1, saw the Padres relinquish four mid-tier prospects from a deep but dwindling farm system for a three-time National League Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year. 

Hader's performance in a Padres uniform was nothing short of exceptional. He posted a 2.61 ERA, 40 saves, a 155 ERA+, 2.85 FIP, and a 1.21 WHIP in 80 games.

Hader's contributions extended beyond statistical excellence; he earned a well-deserved All-Star bid during his time in San Diego. While the Padres fell short of their ultimate goal, Hader's stellar performance was a testament to the success of the trade and the impact he had on the team's playoff push.

Looking back at the trade, the Padres emerge as clear winners. None of the players traded to the Brewers made a significant impact in Milwaukee. 

Rogers, a left-handed reliever, departed after half a season to join the Giants on a lucrative three-year, $33 million contract. 

Lamet, a right-handed starter, was designated for assignment two days after the trade. He's currently a free agent. 

Ruiz, ranked 28th in the Padres' system at the time, was traded to the Oakland A's after the 2022 season and went on to lead the American League in stolen bases in 2023. 

Gasser, 24, the only player still in the Brewers' organization, has yet to throw a pitch in the majors. The left-hander will get a look soon as a non-roster invitee in spring training.

The Padres not only secured a phenomenal player in Hader but also were postseason threats the next season and a half. Hader wasn't the only Padre who drew the ire of fans during an underwhelming 2023 season that saw the team win 82 games and finish out of the wild-card race.

Josh Hader, asked his thinking behind not making himself available for 4 outs: "It's the situation that we were at."

Asked to clarify, he said, "Are we in the playoff race?"

Technically, yes, but it would take a miracle, to which he said, "You guys want me to do everything."

— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) September 26, 2023

However, the sum total of Hader's contributions to the Padres made it nearly impossible for Milwaukee to claim victory in the trade. Between his spotless postsesason record in 2022 and his All-Star worthy regular season in 2023, Hader more than held up his end of the bargain.