MLB Rumors: Blake Snell trade fit, Braves superstar trade, Cubs-Astros deal

MLB Rumors: Could the Braves trade for Josh Hader with the Padres?

While the Eddie Rosario injury scare could at least somewhat alter the trade deadline plans for the Atlanta Braves, the fact remains that the primary objective — if the club even elects to make any type of move — for Alex Anthopoulos and the front office will be to fortify the bullpen.

Given what the Braves have traditionally done, guys like Scott Barlow, Kendall Graveman, Jordan Hicks and other rental relievers would make the most sense. Having said that, there’s one major swing that Atlanta could potentially take at the trade deadline that would send shockwaves throughout the league.

That would be trading for Josh Hader.

Hader was moved at last year’s trade deadline with the Padres going all-in alongside the Juan Soto trade. But one year later, the Padres are six games under .500 and 10.5 games out of the NL West lead. With the southpaw reliever in the final year of his contract, San Diego could look to recoup as much value as possible to move forward in a better position, which is why Chase Irle of SportsTalkATL had Hader as the No. 2 trade target for the Braves.

Here’s what Irle said:

"After a surprisingly down year in 2022, Hader is back to being the best closer in baseball, boasting 1.08 ERA and 13.5 K/9. If the Padres fall out of the playoff race, he will be one of the most coveted relievers in the game. It’s not in the Braves MO to give up prospects for rentals, but Hader might just be worth it to put the team over the top."

Furthering that, the injury to A.J. Minter that landed him on the 15-day IL puts the Braves in a position where they are less certain at the back of the bullpen. Even with Minter, though, you could argue that both he and Raisel Iglesias are best in set-up type roles in the seventh and eighth innings. As such, brining in one of baseball’s best closers in Hader would make for an elite back-end punch out of the bullpen.

As Irle mentioned, this isn’t necessarily how the Braves often do business at the trade deadline. But if major-league talent like Travis d’Arnaud or ready talent like Vaughn Grissom or Jared Shuster could move the Padres, it’s something that Atlanta should explore wholeheartedly.