Joe Musgrove Appears to Shade Former Padres Closer Josh Hader

Maren Angus-Coombs | Apr 5, 2024

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The San Diego Padres aren't upset that Josh Hader left for the Houston Astros. Instead, they have newfound respect for Robert Suarez, who stepped up to get the final five outs to preserve a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.

Pitching multiple innings was not something Hader made himself available for while with the Padres and Joe Musgrove threw some slite shade at the team's former reliever.

“Having a closer that you can go out there and rely on for more than just three outs is huge to us here,” Musgrove said. “He’s always willing to take the ball, and we’re grateful for it.”

Hader had his reasons for rarely making a multi-inning appearance. He was overused early in his career with the Milwaukee Brewers and had it held against him in arbitration. Houston offered him his big pay day, knowing his strict policy, and they agreed on a five-year, $95 million contract.

Hader worked more than one inning for San Diego once, getting four outs to clinch Game 2 of the 2022 NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. They could have used him more in the NL Championship Series that year or in other crucial games that season but it didn't happen.

Houston's newest closer has begun his tenure with a blown save and a loss while Suarez has been praised and appreciated for three appearances of more than an inning. While he isn't expected to get four or five out every save opportunity, he is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win which is a breath of fresh air for the Padres.

“They came to me and they asked me if that’s something that I was willing and available to do — get more than three outs, and I told him from the start that, yeah, that’s something that I was willing to do,” Suarez said through interpreter Danny Sanchez. “I’d had a couple days off and then with the day off tomorrow, I felt good enough to go out there for four or five outs.”