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Brewers working on a Josh Hader / Gavin Lux trade?

By Matthew Dewoskin

PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 05: Josh Hader #71 of the Milwaukee Brewers delivers a pitch in the seventh inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on July 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 05: Josh Hader #71 of the Milwaukee Brewers delivers a pitch in the seventh inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on July 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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The Milwaukee Brewers are known to be listening on trades for closer Josh Hader. Could Hader get dealt if the Dodgers offer top prospect Gavin Lux?

There were already rumors around the New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers discussing a deal that would send closer Josh Hader to The Bronx. The rumors with New York have died down, but rumors are starting to swirl around a potential deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers for top prospect Gavin Lux. Could these become more than just rumblings and end in an actual trade?

How good is Gavin Lux?

He’s awesome. If Lux was on any other team, he’d probably have a full season in the Majors under his belt already. He’s a top-10 or top-5 prospect in all of baseball depending on which list he’s on.

Lux started the 2019 season in Double-A and only stayed for 49 games. He slashed .313/.375/.521 before getting promoted to Triple-A. Lux was even better with Oklahoma City, and posted a .392/.478/.719 slash line in 49 games before getting called up to the Majors. Lux posted a .705 OPS in 82 plate appearances with the Dodgers in his age-21 season. He also picked up 10 plate appearances in the National League Division Series.

How would Lux fit into the Brewers roster?

He’s played second base and shortstop in his professional career, but it’s conceivable that Lux could slide over to third base and stay there for the next decade.

Lux is also from Kenosha, WI, and would be an instant fan favorite.

If Luis Urias develops into a Major League-caliber shortstop and Keston Hiura becomes the eventual batting champion he looks like, adding Lux to the Brewers would give them one of the youngest, most dynamic infields in all of baseball.

What would a trade look like?

It’s hard to see either team agreeing to a straight up, one-for-one swap. One top prospect for Hader sounds a little light for the Brewers perspective, and it’s unclear if the Dodgers would only want a reliever in exchange for their top prospect.

The Dodgers would need to be convinced that adding Hader to their bullpen would take them over the top, and the Brewers would need to be convinced that a return of Lux plus an extra is better than whatever the Yankees were offering.

How real is the interest in Hader from Los Angeles?

A trade, at this point, isn’t imminent. In fact, it’s unclear if the teams are even talking. However, the fact that Jon Heyman is writing tweeting about this indicates that there may have been a conversation at some point. It was believed that the Dodgers were calling about Hader earlier in the off season, so it’s not inconceivable that a conversation or two happened during the Winter Meetings.

Next. Which free agent options are still available at first?. dark

A Hader-for-Lux swap is just a rumor at this point. There’s nothing to indicate that a deal is coming soon or even in discussion. However, a deal would help the Dodgers create a ‘Built-For-October’ bullpen, and it would help the Brewers figure out their infield. This is a situation worth monitoring for now, but the odds are still in favor of Hader opening the 2020 season in Milwaukee.

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