Josh Hader Rumors: Some Teams May Be Hesitant About Former Padres Closer

Hader is expected to be the most sought-after reliever on the open market.

Free agent closer Josh Hader is one of many coming from the San Diego Padres this winter. He put together a great season with San Diego last year and now is expected to receive the largest deal for a relief pitcher this offseason.

In 61 appearances for the Padres, Hader posted an ERA of 1.28 and a WHIP of 1.10. He also struck out 85 batters in 65.1 innings of work. But despite his strong season, there are some teams that may be hesitant about signing him this offseason.

"However, his average fastball velocity dropped from 97.4 mph in 2022 to 96.1 in ‘23 while his walk rate increased from 9.6 percent to a career-high 13 percent. Some clubs find that combination alarming."

Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic

Anytime a relief pitcher's velocity dips it can be cause for concern, and teams may see it as a sign to stay away. The reliever market can be very fickle year to year, and even the best tend to have weird years sometimes.

But on the flip side of everything, Hader was as dominant as ever. He once again showed that he was one of the better closers in the game today.

"In other ways, Hader was as good as ever. His .157 expected batting average against was the lowest in the majors (minimum 1,000 pitches). Using the same criteria, his slider had the lowest expected batting average against of any pitch by any pitcher. His hard-hit percentage ranked in the 97th percentile."

Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic

There were times when he was essentially unhittable, and there will be teams vying for her services. He has been linked with the Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies to name a few, and Hader will get a nice payday even with all the concerns.