At the time the time that it was done, the Josh Hader trade in 2022 was widely unpopular among Milwaukee Brewers fans. Many of them blamed that trade on Milwaukee skidding in the second half of the season and, ultimately missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Of course, the trade looks better in hindsight because one of the players acquired in return for the Brewers All-Star closer, outfielder Esteury Ruiz, was traded in the offseason for now two-time Silver Slugger winning catcher William Contreras.
But at the time, the return for Hader was, in a word, underwhelming. And the poor performance of the closer they got in return did not help.
Taylor Rogers Struggled with the Milwaukee Brewers
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The key piece that Milwaukee received in return for Hader was former All-Star closer Taylor Rogers, who had a 1-5 record and 4.35 ERA (and 28 saves) at the time of the trade. While closing duties were handed to Devin Williams after the trade, Rogers was supposed to be an important contributor in the bullpen.
Unfortunately, he was even worse when he arrived in Milwaukee than he had been with the San Diego Padres earlier in the season.
In 24 games with the Brewers, Rogers was 3-3 with a 5.48 ERA and three saves. He became a free agent after the season and signed with the San Francisco Giants.
And now he is returning to the NL Central.
Former Milwaukee Brewers Pitcher Taylor Rogers Has Been Traded to the Cincinnati Reds
Fortunately for Rogers, he seemed to have regained his form with the Giants. In 2023, he was 6-4 with a 3.83 ERA in 60 games and in 2024 was 1-4 with a 2.40 ERA in 64 games.
Unfortunately for the Brewers, he is now returning to the National League Central. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Giants have traded Rogers to the Cincinnati Reds:
The Cincinnati Reds are finalizing a trade to acquire left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers from the San Francisco Giants, sources tell me and @kileymcd. Rogers, 34, is owed $12 million this season and adds a late-inning arm to Cincinnati’s bullpen. On the news: @ByRobertMurray.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 29, 2025
This news comes on the same day that the Reds signed former Brewers starting pitcher Wade Miley to a minor league contract.
Rogers has one year and $12 million remaining on his contract.
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