Blue Jays: Ranking The Top 10 Potential Trade Targets

#2-CP Josh Hader

I’ve focused on the rotation and lineup but the Jays bullpen is going to need some work this offseason as well.  Luckily for them,  one of the best relievers in baseball is on the trade block and could be getting moved this offseason.  That reliever is Josh Hader.  Hader has been outstanding over the last four seasons, posting a 2.54 ERA, an insane 15.3 K/9 ratio, and a 171 ERA+.  Milwaukee is one of many teams looking to shed salary this offseason and we’ve already seen them do so by dealing reliever Corey Kneble to the Dodgers.  With the emergence of Devin Williams, Hader is rumored to also be on the move.

Hader would be a dream fit for the Jays as he’s not only a dominant reliever, he is also a lefty which is a huge need for the Jays as the only lefty they really had in their pen last year was Ryan Borucki, who was good but was nothing special.  Acquiring Hader and sliding Borucki to their number two lefty spot would make a really nice tandem for the Jays in 2021.  Hader is only entering his second year of arbitration and is under team control for three more years, so, like Hendricks, he’s not going to come cheap.

Normally I don’t like giving up a lot for relievers, whether it is money or prospect capital because they’re pretty disposable, but Hader has proven to be one the elite relievers in baseball and I think he would be worth every bit of what they give up to get him.

TOR receives LHP Josh Hader; MIL receives RHP Thomas Hatch, SS Miguel Hiraldo