Brewers: Ranking The Top 5 Potential Suitors For A Josh Hader Trade

4. New York Yankees

The New York Yankees have been an oft-rumored team in any potential Josh Hader trade sweepstakes. The Brewers have gotten calls from the Yankees over the past few years about Hader but a deal, to this point, has not come to fruition.

The Yankees already have three highly-paid relievers (Chapman, Zack Britton, Adam Ottavino) on the books for 2021, but given their ability to run up a payroll, this wouldn’t hinder them from getting Josh Hader if they really wanted him.

What might hinder them from getting Hader is what they have to offer the Brewers in return for him.

One of the most talked about return piece in a Hader trade is Miguel Andujar. Andujar is a third baseman, he’s young, under team control for four more years, and fits a need for the Brewers. However, Andujar missed most of 2019 with a labrum tear after diving into a base, similar to how Jimmy Nelson injured his shoulder.

Then in 2020, Andujar was not able to earn regular at-bats and was sent down to the minors and lost his job to Gio Urshela. Andujar has had one full season in the big leagues, which was 2018, and he played well in that season but has only played in 33 games over the two seasons since.

More would obviously need to be added to that package. Someone like Clint Frazier is often mentioned, but he has never been more than a fourth outfielder in his career despite his high prospect status coming through the minors. Luke Voit and Mike Tauchman have been productive at first base, but it’s unlikely that either of them would move the needle in a Hader deal.

The Yankees could deal from their farm system, where they have some intriguing talent. Their top prospect, Jasson Dominguez, is likely off-limits. Some of their other top prospects also seem incredibly risky.

The Yankees don’t appear to be a great fit for the Brewers in a Hader trade. Something could happen, and if the Yankees really want to make a deal, they can find a way, but it’s not a perfect fit and that lands them at No. 4 on this list.