Brewers to Reportedly Make Josh Hader Available in Trades This Winter

Sound the alarms, MLB fans, because one of the league's top relievers could be on the trade market this offseason.

Per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the Milwaukee Brewers will entertain the prospect of dealing flamethrowing left-hander Josh Hader this winter.

Essentially, it all comes down to the fact that Hader's annual salary -- currently projected to be $4.6 million for the 2020 season -- could increase due to unique terms of the CBA that permit his agents to contend that he is a player of "special accomplishment," which allows them to compare Hader with any reliever in the league.

The Brewers also must consider the sheer workload they've put on Hader's shoulders. His 168 innings across the last two seasons rank as the second-most among all big league relievers.

Sure, the 25-year-old's numbers in 2019 -- 3-5 record alongside a 2.62 ERA, 0.806 WHIP, 37 saves, and 138 strikeouts in 75.2 innings -- were good enough to earn him a spot in the All-Star Game, but it would simply be foolish of Milwaukee to not acknowledge that his past workload (despite his age) could provoke a decline in performance as his salary begins to inflate.

It would certainly make sense for Milwaukee to at least get potential buyers on the phone to see what kind of haul they could get in return.

Though their interest has yet to be confirmed, Rosenthal tabbed the New York Mets as a potential landing spot for Hader given Brodie Van Wagenen's willingness to cough up future assets for win-now pieces. And Hader is certainly an asset that could take the Mets' bullpen to new heights.

This rumor, though captivating, is still in its inception stage, so stay tuned for further updates regarding Hader's availability following the winter meetings.