Dodgers Have Very Strong Odds to Land All-Star Closer Josh Hader in Free Agency
Perhaps the Los Angeles Dodgers will have the last laugh in the Josh Hader sweepstakes this offseason.
According to Bookies.com, the odds are in the Dodgers' favor to sign Josh Hader at +650, giving them a 13.3% chance to land him. That would allow the Dodgers to get the last laugh over their division rival San Diego Padres.
The only teams ahead of the Dodgers according to these odds are the Texas Rangers at +350 and the New York Yankees at +550.
Hader is arguably the best closing pitcher in all of baseball as he is a three-time NL Reliever of the Year winner, a five-time All-Star selection and has been a shutdown closer for a long time.
In a down year with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2022, Hader was traded to the Padres and continued to underperform as he held an ERA of 7.31 with San Diego and allowed opponents to hit .270 against him.
However, he was absolutely lights out in the playoffs en route to their surprise NLCS run.
Last year, Hader had a bounce back year for the Padres pitching with a 1.28 ERA and collecting 33 saves.
Hader is just 29 years old and will turn 30 on April 30. He is coming off a dominant year and has hit free agency for the first time in his career, positioning him to land a long-term contract that will pay him handsomely.
Last year, Evan Phillips led the Dodgers in saves with 24 in 27 opportunities. As of right now, Phillips is set to return to the Dodgers as he has three more years of club control, but if they do sign Hader, expect to see Phillips move down as a setup man or the fireman role the Dodgers love playing him in.
