When the San Diego Padres acquired Josh Hader from the Milwaukee Brewers, A.J. Preller likely did not think he would be traded just a year later. Could the Braves be a suitor?
Josh Hader would be an electric addition to the Atlanta Braves bullpen. Of course, he would also come at a steep price, making it all the more unlikely the Alex Anthopoulos overpays for what, essentially, could be a rental.
Hader is in his final season of arbitration, meaning he finally gets a chance to enter free agency this winter and receive the contract he so deserves. For San Diego, it signals a chance to move off of Hader for some trade return. The Pads are not in contention for the NL West crown just a year after making the NLCS. They added to their roster this winter in the former of Xander Bogaerts and others, but the final product hasn't delivered as expected.
But what would a trade for Hader look like?
Would the Padres make this trade for Josh Hader?
As a rental, this isn't a bad trade for Hader, though I'd be skeptical with any deal involving Alex Anthopoulos at this point. Grissom projects to be a shortstop or corner outfielder. Smith-Shawver is young enough to mold into a top-tier starter, should San Diego prefer it. Spencer Schwellenbach is nearing the majors and could be a decent relief pitcher right now if the Padres were in contention.
Would the Braves make this trade for Josh Hader?
If Anthopoulos views a relief pitcher like Hader as the missing piece from a World Series-caliber team, there's not much holding him back from making this deal. Atlanta has held Grissom back all year long, though he's been hitting well in the minors of late. Smith-Shawver would be tough to part with, considering his age and tools, but trading young talent is necessary in a deal for a high-profile closer.
