Josh Hader trade grades: Who won the Padres and Brewers deal?

The Milwaukee Brewers are in the middle of contending in the National League thanks in part to All-Star closer Josh Hader in the back of a robust bullpen.

Sure, he had a 4.24 ERA, but it’s Josh Hader. Come the postseason, he’s going to be needed.

So the Brewers did the logical thing and … traded Hader? To the San Diego Padres, who needed a closer badly?

Yep. Not a typo. He had one year left on his deal, but whaaaaaaaat?

We’ll get into it, as we have with other major MLB trade deadline deals: Let’s hand out some grades to both teams:

The San Diego Padres receive: LHP Josh Hader.

The Milwaukee Brewers receive: LHP Taylor Rogers, RHP Dinelson Lamet, LHP Robert Gasser and OF Esteury Ruiz.

Rogers was having himself a solid year after the Twins dealt him … until he wasn’t, imploding as of late.

So it made sense for the team to go shopping for bullpen help. And they got one of the elite closers in the game who’s having just an OK year. It feels like a good idea to buy somewhat low on Hader, especially when the team didn’t have to give up a ton to do it in terms of current players or minor leaguers.

The only worry: What if Hader’s struggles are real? But that’s the kind of gamble you make on a player with a proven track record.

There’s also this fact: They’re still in position to deal for Juan Soto. That’s almost as huge as the deal itself!

GRADE: B+

OK so … this was honestly a weird one.

I get it on paper to an extent (a VERY small extent) — Devin Williams has been his usual amazing self, Brad Boxberger has a 2.75 ERA … fine, maybe you can deal Hader and not be too hurt late. Hader can be a free agent in a year, so get something for him, right?

But Rogers certainly isn’t an upgrade. I guess Ruiz will be able to help with speed on the basepaths. Although Lamet is still only 30 and two years removed from a breakout year before an elbow injury set him back, maybe he’s got something left. Gasser is a top-10 prospect in the Padres’ organization.

In other words: Meh.

What am I missing here? This feels like the kind of move a non-contender makes at the deadline to sell on a future free agent, not one made by a team three games up in the division.

Hopefully, it doesn’t bite them in the postseason.

GRADE: C-