Padres Rumors: MLB Insider Thinks Friars All-Star Could be Traded at Deadline
The San Diego Padres have some major choices to make as the trade deadline quickly approaches. They are currently a few games back of the final Wild Card spot in the National League and have underperformed all season long. But the team has played better of late despite all their issues.
They have a few weeks to either be aggressive and become buyers at the deadline or they can become sellers for some of their big free agents at the end of the season. One of the biggest that the Friars have is closer Josh Hader and many in the industry are wondering just what the Padres will do with him.
With him being a free agent this winter, the Padres could look to move him now to ensure they don’t just lose him for nothing later in the year. But Hader is a valuable piece to their team and they have signaled a want to still compete for a title this season. So these next few weeks could tell us where the Padres' heads are.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com thinks Hader could be a prime trade target for teams this deadline.
"...if San Diego... finds itself further out by the end of the month, Hader could find himself wearing another uniform as he approaches free agency this offseason."
Hader has been one of the best bullpen options in the league this season, posting an ERA of just 1.06 and has recorded 22 saves. He has given the team a reliable option to close out ballgames but he also could get them a nice haul of prospects back to replenish their farm system.
But despite all the rumors, Hader isn't letting things get to him and continues to just go out there and get the job done.
“It’s nothing I can control,” Hader said. “You can’t get your head wrapped up in what-ifs or whatever may happen. For me, it's just going out there every day and making sure that I'm ready to pitch. If it happens, it happens; just like last year, there have been rumors pretty much every year since I've been in arbitration that it’s a possibility."
San Diego acquired Hader last trade deadline from the Milwaukee Brewers and now could move him just a season later. They could always hold onto him to make a run for the postseason as well so these next few weeks will be interesting to monitor.
