New York Yankees: The plan for Josh Hader… If he comes

The New York Yankees were said to be the ‘most active pursuers’ for Josh Hader. In doing so, not only is the team reinforcing a strength, they’re building for the future.

I know, it’s not fair. The New York Yankees already got the best available starting pitcher by throwing money at Gerrit Cole. Now, they’re going to get the best available reliever in Josh Hader too?

On Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and Yankees are interested in obtaining the 25-year-old reliever. In the piece, Rosenthal said the Yanks “have been the most active pursuer” for Hader before adding that any deal would be unlikely.

The fact of the matter is, Hader is under club control through 2023 and has won two consecutive Trevor Hoffman Awards in the NL, an award recognizing the top reliever in each league. So, in return, the Milwaukee Brewers are going to want a lot in return.

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The fact that the Yankees are the most active pursuers is no surprise to me. For close to three decades now, the team’s identity has relied on heavy hitters and shut down relievers.

In obtaining someone like Hader, the New York Yankees would not only be strengthing one of the best parts of their team, they’d also be building for the future. That’s because by the time Aroldis Chapman‘s deal expires in 2022, Hader will be primed and ready to take over closing duties for the Bronx Bombers.

By then, the torch would have been passed from Mariano Rivera to Chappy to Hader, arguably the best relief pitchers of each of their generations.

So, what will it take to acquire someone of Hader’s ilk? Well, I can’t imagine anything less than a multiplayer package that includes players like Miguel Andujar and/or Clint Frazier and/or prized prospect Davey Garcia and perhaps even more.

Are all of those players worth one bullpen arm? My brain says, no! That is why I’m in agreement with Rosenthal in thinking that any deal for Josh Hader would be unlikely.