New York Yankees: A more realistic trade package for Josh Hader

Earlier today, a sister site proposed a possible trade package the New York Yankees can offer to obtain reliever Josh Hader. He’s a more realistic option.

Earlier today, a colleague over at Reviewing the Brew proposed a trade the New York Yankees could possibly make for Josh Hader. It looked a little something like this:

• Yankees get: Hader and Luis Urias
• Brewers Get: Gleyber Torres, Luis Severino, RHP Luis Gil

The problem with the deal is that it is extremely lopsided. I concede that Hader is an elite relief pitcher. He is, after all, a two-time Trevor Hoffman Award winner.

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However, he is still only a relief pitcher. Someone who will pitch mostly 1-inning at a time and never really impact a game as much as, say, a middle infielder or a starting pitcher.

Also, Urias is a nice player, but seriously?

Firstly, even if the deal had been an even Hader for Gleyber swap, there’s no way it gets done. Gleyber is arguably the centerpiece of the Yankees who will be under club control through the 2024 season. Hader, on the other hand, is eligible to test free agency in 2024.

Also, Luis Severino is one season removed from competing for a Cy Young Award. Had it not been for injuries, who knows what type of pitcher he could’ve been in 2019. What we do know is that in 3 GS last year, he posted a 1.50 ERA, striking out 17 batters in 12 IP.

What’s more, he was just as good in the postseason, pitching to a 2.16 ERA in 2 GS.

Josh Hader is an elite arm out of the pen. Someone who will dominate several hitters over one, maybe two innings of work at a time. He’s also someone who blew 7 saves last season, third-most in the game.

The New York Yankees would love to acquire Hader from the Milwaukee Brewers, but the price will have to be much lower than Torres, Severino, and Gil, one of the top pitching prospects on the team.

A trade between the Yankees and Brewers will have to look something more like this:

The fact is, a deal between both teams, as Ken Rosenthal put it, “remains unlikely.” If it were to occur, however, I would propose that prospects would be the centerpiece. Not readymade MLB players that are established members of their team.