Padres Linked to Free Agent All-Star Closer as Potential Josh Hader Replacement

Now this would be interesting...

The San Diego Padres are expected to lose closer Josh Hader on the open market this offseason as the team looks to shed salary. Hader was one of the best closers in the game a year ago, and replacing his production won't be easy.

Right now, it's expected that reliever Robert Suarez will take over the closing responsibility, but Suarez didn't have a great 2023 season. He regressed from his dominant 2022 year, and that could be a cause for concern.

MLB insider Jim Bowden of The Athletic linked the Padres to a former All-Star, who could easily take over the role that Hader held last season. That would be left-hander Aroldis Chapman, who spent the end of last season with the Texas Rangers.

San Diego Padres — Aroldis Chapman, LHP (two years, $14 million with incentives) 

"The Padres will need to find a way to replace closer Josh Hader, and Chapman could fit the bill. He was instrumental in the Rangers winning the World Series despite his continued control and command issues. Chapman logged a 3.09 ERA this year, striking out 103 in 58 1/3 innings and yielding just 37 hits. His fastball was back in the triple digits and his slider was as nasty and hard as it’s been in many years. However, he’s still wild and walks way too many batters (5.7 walks per nine innings)."

Per Jim Bowden of The Athletic

Coming off winning the World Series with the Rangers, Chapman would bring winning experience with him to San Diego. He also won a title with the Chicago Cubs as well, so he understands the pressure from the playoffs."

The Padres have to find a way to replace Hader, and Chapman could be a very sensible move. He wouldn't cost as much as some of the other options, and he showed that he could still perform at a high level.

This is just one option for the Friars, but Chapman could be a nice low-cost replacement for them. Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller always has different moves up his sleeve, and he surely has more this winter.