Padres Insider Lays Out Likely Plan for Josh Hader-Less Bullpen in 2024

Who will fill Hader's place in the bullpen?

With the Padres' and many other teams' offseasons already being over a week old, those eliminated squads are starting to figure out their goals for the next season. 

For the Padres, the team expects a lot of turnover in all aspects of the game. 

The Friars bullpen will look much different in 2024 as closer Josh Hader is likely to walk in free agency

According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Padres are going to use current resources to fill in the holes that Hader leaves behind. 

With the Padres almost certain to let Josh Hader leave as a free agent, they will move Robert Suarez into the closer role. With Scott Barlow, Tom Cosgrove and Steven Wilson, the Padres seem to have promising higher-leverage options, but they have decisions to make on how to supplement those four.

(Via The San Diego Union Tribune)

The expected closer for next season, Robert Suarez has not had experience with closing out games in the MLB yet. In his two-year career, Suarez has only recorded one save out of the bullpen. 

For the first 11 years of his professional career, though, Suarez was a closer in both Mexico and Japan. He recorded 164 saves during his time overseas. 

As for the other options coming out of the bullpen next year, they all have experience in relief at the major league level. 

Scott Barlow had a 3.07 ERA in 27 innings since coming over to the Padres at the trade deadline.  

Tom Cosgrove had a 1.75 ERA in 54 appearances in his first year in the league. 

Steven Wilson had a sub-four ERA in 51 appearances with he Padres last year. 

With four pitchers who had strong 2023 seasons coming out of the bullpen for the Friars, the team may not miss Hader as much as some might expect.