Josh Hader Enters Free Agency With Unexpected Hype Video from Padres Legend
As the San Diego Padres enter into their offseason, they have a ton of decisions to make regarding their roster for next season. Some of them come in the form of their own guys, including closer Josh Hader, who is entering free agency.
Hader was great for the Friars in 2023, posting an ERA of 1.28 and a WHIP of 1.10 on the year. He was as reliable as any closer in the game and remains one of the best in the league.
And despite all his efforts, the Padres aren't expected to retain him this winter. They don't want to pay what it would take to resign him, and that will see him leave the organization.
As free agency gets going, Hader posted a hype video to send to prospective teams. But the interesting part was that it was voiced over by former San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman.
To be fair, Hoffman also pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers, which is the other team that Hader played for before being traded to San Diego. So, maybe this is nothing or maybe, this is everything.
In the video, there are highlights of Hader, but also a few moments of closer success in the postseason. It seems that he is trying to paint the picture that a dominant closer means more playoff success, which some teams may believe to be true.
While it's unlikely that Hader returns, maybe the Padres have a change of heart. Maybe they realize that having a weapon like Hader out of the bullpen gives them a better chance next season.
Only time will tell what actually happens, but it seems that we are off to a bang in free agency with this video. Hader knows his worth, and he is likely to receive a massive contract this offseason.