The Milwaukee Brewers completed a trade with the San Diego Padres that sent four-time All-Star Josh Hader to west coast. In return, the Brewers received Padres closer Taylor Rogers, reliever Dinelson Lamet, the Padres’ seventh ranked prospect (Robert Gasser), and 28th ranked prospect (Esteury Ruiz). Rumors of a deal have been swirling for months. After the trade, the Brewers released the following thread of posts on Twitter. The second one is a statement of David Stearns’ statement regarding the trade:
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 1, 2022
Comments On David Stearns’ Statement
If there is one thing that can be said about David Stearns’ tenure running the front office of the Milwaukee Brewers, it is that he has ALWAYS put the Brewers in a position to win. While not all of his trades have worked out, and while all of his decisions have not been popular, the Brewers have remained competitive throughout.
David Stearns took over as the general manager of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015. One his first moves was to trade fan-favorite Jonathan Lucroy. A wildly unpopular move at the time generated great return for the Brewers. One of the players he acquired in the deal, Lewis Brinson, was the headliner of the trade that brought Christian Yelich to Milwaukee. We all know how that turned out. Lucroy, for his part, played for seven teams in six seasons and was never as good as he was with Milwaukee. It is almost like Stearns knows what he is doing.
All Signings and Departures Have Followed a Consistent Model
That being said, Josh Hader is a generational talent. It is never easy to see such a talented player traded away from an organization that one roots for. It is easy to say that Brewers owner Mark Attanasio should open his wallet and pay up. I, myself, have said it many times. However, that has never been his way. During his tenure as the owner of the Brewers, we have seen star players like CC Sabathia Prince Fielder depart after being offered FAR less money by Milwaukee’s front office than what they signed for elsewhere. The stars they have signed long-term, namely Ryan Braun and Christian Yelich, signed for far less than they could have received elsewhere.
In other words, if the Brewers are to sign Corbin Burnes to an extension, he HAS to display a willingness to take a hometown discount. It was the same for Josh Hader. If Hader had demonstrated a willingness to take less money to stay, he would have been extended a few years ago. This is something that Freddy Peralta did last year, and Aaron Ashby did just last week.
It is frustrating at times. It is not fun watching guys traded or allowed to walk away. But that is the Brewers way under Attanasio and Stearns. We should not expect anything different.
The Josh Hader Trade Did Not Sit Well with Brewers Fans
Brewers fans are not stupid. They know how Attanasio and Stearns operate. That, however, does not make transactions like today’s trade any easier to digest. Needless to say, emotions were running high on social media today following the news of Josh Hader’s trade to the San Diego Padres:
Which Milwaukee player will Josh Hader strike out when the 6th seeded Padres record the final out against the 3rd seeded Brewers at American Family Field to advance to the Divisional Round?
— Bart Winkler (@WinksThinks) August 1, 2022
Brewers fans: I trust David Stearns.
David Stearns: We’re trading Josh Hader.
Brewers fans: pic.twitter.com/rvKEkPmxB5
— P (@PPFleegrr_87) August 1, 2022
I was never opposed to the Brewers trading Josh Hader. I would be all for it if you were getting MLB ready offense to help the team over the hump to a World Series THIS year.
— Wisconsin Family (@Wisconsin_fam) August 1, 2022
Josh Hader is going to the Padres, which means Freddie Freeman can son him more often pic.twitter.com/4ZFqem12DE
— Mexican Rug Dealer (@DealinRugs) August 1, 2022
Why tf did we trade josh hader…
— Chef Voyeur D (@Blake2Awesome) August 1, 2022
Josh Hader https://t.co/PMhVWSJQ5b
— Math (@BigMEMath) August 1, 2022
The Brewers and their fans will certainly miss Josh Hader. There is no way around it: it sucks. However, the Brewers have made the Playoffs for four consecutive seasons. Devin Williams can easily slide in as the closer. It is time to make a pennant run… without Josh Hader.
To Read More Brewers News, Click Here!
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here! Also, check out our merch store for some amazing WSH merchandise!
