Padres Rumors: Insider Lays Out Potential Package to Send Josh Hader to Atlanta
The Padres are in a weird spot.
Normally at this time of the season -- with MLB's trade deadline sitting just two days away -- teams around the league know whether they'll be buyers or sellers and act accordingly to accomplish whatever their objective.
San Diego is the exception to the rule.
They're sitting five and a half games back from the final playoff spot in the National League, firmly on the sellers bubble with a plethora of star power still on their roster.
The Padres are still deliberating whether to buy or sell ahead of Tuesday's deadline, and could get a great return in exchange for some of their stars, including closer Josh Hader.
Hader's been arguably the best relief arm in the sport this year, sporting an 0.95 ERA in 40 appearances. Given the Padres' position at this point, they could get a great package in return for him.
And MLB insider Jim Bowden of The Athletic laid out a package he thinks the Atlanta Braves could give the Padres in return for the lockdown closer.
"I think it would take a package along the lines of right-handed pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver and shortstop Vaughn Grissom for the Braves to land Hader, an impending free agent, at the deadline. Of course, that’s if the Padres decide to sell."
Smith-Shawver has been one of the Braves' top pitching prospects in the last few years, and he completed a meteoric rise through Atlanta's system to reach the majors just two years after being drafted out of high school in 2021. He struggled once there, but the potential is there for the starter-turned-reliever... and now back to starter, to turn into a force in MLB in a relatively short time.
Grissom was the Braves No. 1 prospect before his original callup to Atlanta in 2022, and he started off his MLB career on a good note, slashing .291/.353/.440 in 41 games last year.
He didn't win the starting shortstop job out of spring training this year though, and has spent much of this season in Triple-A Gwinnett. Similar to Smith-Swarver though, Grissom has incredible potential and he's still young at 22 years old.
Things they presently need -- and would need in the event of a Hader trade -- is consistent offensive production in the middle of the infield and a quality bullpen arm. Grissom's shown he could do that in the majors last season, while Smith-Swarmer could develop that with more time in MLB -- something he would likely get if dealt to San Diego.
Also, given that Hader is due to hit free agency after this season -- thereby somewhat cutting his trade value -- getting two top prospects in return for their premier closer is certainly a reasonable return.
And it could help an already solid Padres roster improve for what could very well be a soon bright future.
