Why did the Milwaukee Brewers deal Josh Hader? The recent struggles had no impact on Hader moving to San Diego. This was purely financial. Big bank take little bank.
For years, the Milwaukee Brewers have hung around the “good enough” area, and they really like it there. The Brewers toppled their standard payroll numbers in 2021 and 2022. Heavy spending with the hopes of competing for a title. But regular season success has not amounted to postseason glory.
If anyone is unclear on why Josh Hader was moved, look no further than his pending arbitration. This is a classic case of a small market team needing to unload a player, who will not decide the season for the Brewers one way or another.
Milwaukee Brewers General Manager, Matt Arnold needed to find the best return. Josh Hader would surely fetch a big haul coming back, and that he did. The Brewers inherited a much cheaper Taylor Rogers, Dinelson Lamet and two near-big league ready players in Robert Gasser and Esteury Ruiz.
The Brewers are fully aware their strengths are in the starting pitching rotation. The next few years could get shaky and maintaining most of the rotation is paramount to the success of the team.
Corbin Burnes
| YEAR | AGE | BASE SALARY |
| 2022 | 27 | $6,500,000 |
| 2023 | 28 | ARB 2 |
| 2024 | 29 | ARB 3 |
| 2025 | 30 | UFA |
Freddy Peralta
| YEAR | AGE | BASE SALARY |
| 2022 | 26 | $2,484,960 |
| 2023 | 27 | $3,734,960 |
| 2024 | 28 | $5,734,960 |
| 2025 | 29 | $8,000,000 |
| 2026 | 30 | $8,000,000 |
| 2027 | 31 | UFA |
Brandon Woodruff
| YEAR | AGE | BASE SALARY |
| 2022 | 29 | $6,800,000 |
| 2023 | 30 | ARB 2 |
| 2024 | 31 | ARB 3 |
| 2025 | 32 | UFA |
Eric Lauer
| YEAR | AGE | BASE SALARY |
| 2022 | 27 | $2,245,000 |
| 2023 | 28 | ARB 2 |
| 2024 | 29 | ARB 3 |
| 2025 | 30 | UFA |
Aaron Ashby
| YEAR | AGE | BASE SALARY |
| 2022 | 24 | $570,500 |
| 2023 | 25 | $1,200,000 |
| 2024 | 26 | $1,450,000 |
| 2025 | 27 | $3,450,000 |
| 2026 | 28 | $5,700,000 |
| 2027 | 29 | $7,700,000 |
| 2028 | 30 | $9,000,000 |
| 2029 | 31 | $13,000,000 |
| 2030 | 32 | UFA |
Josh Hader and the Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a one-year, $11 million dollar deal, and that amount was sure to be higher next season. Moving Hader was the only logical option for a team that must be concerned about the upcoming years, especially 2025. Looking to cost-controlled options on the mound will be the only way the Brewers will compete moving forward. Few lineups need more help than this Milwaukee team. They will have a tough enough time keeping their top two pitchers, let alone adding talent to the batting order.
As other National League teams continue to spend, the Brewers will unfortunately find themselves priced out, unless changes are made, which starts with sacrifices. So why was Josh Hader traded? The Milwaukee Brewers cannot afford him long term.
As opposed to getting nothing in return, the Brewers did a nice job of filling future needs. The Brew Crew also has one of the oldest lineups in the Majors, ranking 23rd. There are a lot of changes ahead, and salary restraints unfortunately do not reward small market teams.
