The fireworks have started ahead of the 2022 MLB trade deadline.
The Milwaukee Brewers have traded four-time All-Star closer Josh Hader to the San Diego Padres for a haul of players and prospects, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
In return, Milwaukee received reliever Taylor Rogers, pitching prospect Robert Gasser, outfield prospect Esteury Ruiz and pitcher Dinelson Lamet.
Rogers has been the Padres closer and is actually second in the MLB in saves behind Hader on the season, though he was recently demoted following a rough July in which he had a 9.31 ERA.
Gasser is the team’s seventh-ranked prospect, according to MLB.com. Ruiz is No. 28 on that list. Lamet has a 9.49 ERA through 13 appearances this season.
Hader has a year and a half left on his contract and will be a free agent after the 2023 season. His home run rate is up slightly in 2022, but he is still among the game’s elite relief pitchers and has both a whiff and strikeout rate in the 98th percentile.
The Padres appear to be gearing up for a playoff run, though they are currently only 1.5 games ahead of the Phillies in the second NL Wild Card spot. They are also interested in Nationals mega-star Juan Soto, per The Post’s Jon Heyman.
The MLB trade deadline is Aug. 2.
