Trade to Padres brings out a range of emotions for Josh Hader, who grew up with the Brewers

The writing had been on the wall for a while as far as Josh Hader was concerned.

No, he didn't necessarily expect to be traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to the San Diego Padres on Monday.

But like everyone else, he'd seen the reports over the past few years that other teams had been expressing interest in him and that the Brewers, like always, were doing their due diligence and listening.

So when he received the news he was being shipped out West in exchange for a package of four players, Hader wasn't altogether shocked.

"I would say more overwhelmed just on the sense of logistics-wise but I mean, I had an idea," he said when asked for his initial thoughts on the deal. "Every year, the rumors happen and I know that on a business side of things, this would be the best position and value leading into a trade just because you have a year and a half of control for a team.

"So, obviously, wasn't expecting it fully, but I knew there was a greater chance than years previous. It sucks to leave Milwaukee and everybody here and all the relationships that I've built over the years. I obviously started my career off here and the opportunities that have gone with that. So, it sucks in that aspect of things

"But I look at it as something I can't control, and being able to have a new chapter in my journey, that's something I'm looking forward to — getting over to San Diego to join their team."

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Hader, 28, brought back a pair of major-leaguers in left-hander Taylor Rogers — like him, another left-handed closer — and right-hander Dinelson Lamet.

Rounding out the deal was a pair of minor-leaguers in outfielder Esteury Ruiz and left-hander Robert Gasser.

The trade was somewhat similar to the one that actually brought Hader to Milwaukee way back on July 30, 2015, when he, Adrian Houser, Domingo Santana and Brett Phillips were swapped for Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers.

Santana was the first to make it to the majors for the Brewers. Houser, on the injured list currently, has developed into a starter. Phillips was one of the pieces that ultimately brought Mike Moustakas into the fold in 2018.

Then there was Hader, who switched from starting in the minor leagues to relieving when he broke in with the Brewers back in 2017 and not long thereafter became one of the game's most dominating and unique weapons.

Hader began by pitching multiple innings out of the bullpen before eventually morphing into the more classic closer's role last season.

Along the way, he chalked up four all-star appearances — a franchise record for a reliever — and three National League reliever of the year awards, the most recent coming after his 34-save season in 2021.

Hader set a major-league record to start this season by saving each of the first 18 games in which he appeared and was performing in his usual dominating fashion until hitting a serious speed bump in early July.

From the first of the month through a six-run blowup in a brutal loss at San Francisco on July 15, Hader's earned-run average ballooned from 1.05 to 4.50.

He has allowed only one run in four subsequent appearances and heads to the Padres with a 1-4 record, 4.24 ERA and major-league-leading 29 saves in 37 appearances.

It appeared to be a lock that Hader would surpass Dan Plesac's club record of 133 career saves, but that mark remains intact now with Hader settling for second place with 125.

Along the way, Hader also experienced tremendous highs and lows on a personal level.

They ranged from the birth of his first child last month to the unearthing of racist and misogynist tweets from his youth during his first appearance in the All-Star Game in 2018.

"I've grown a lot," Hader said. "Coming in as a pitcher, using my fastball a lot and just being able to grow and adapt to the league. Trying to involve evolve my pitches — my slider and my changeup — and just trying to become a better pitcher in that aspect of things.

"And, just to be able to take on different roles, coming in being a long-relief guy, trying to go three innings and doing what I can to execute pitches and get outs. That's obviously molded into what I am now as a closer.

"I think that journey has molded me into the player I am today."

More than anything, it was the economic realities of the game that forced the Brewers' hand in dealing Hader now.

With Hader projected to make over $15 million in 2023 in his final year of arbitration (he settled for $11 million this March) the cost to keep a pitcher who would pitch only an inning at a time — albeit one of the best at it — would ultimately have been too high for the small-market franchise.

So, while some fans are undoubtedly upset, the decision was made to move Hader now in order to get the best possible return for him with players that will help both this year and beyond.

"That’s why the front office does what they do," Hader said. "They obviously have a vision for what they think the team is to win a World Series. Obviously, the fans could be a little shocked because it’s something different. I’ve been here my whole (major-league) career, so they’ve seen me grow up as a player and a person.

"For something like that to just disappear and change, that’s the hardest thing for a lot of people. But at the end of the day, I’m looking at it from the business side of things. They have the vision for what they think. As a fan base, they have to trust in what they’re doing and continue to support the Brew Crew.

"From my aspect of things it’s, 'Continue to control what I can control.' It’s a new chapter in my life and my journey."

Hader, one of the most popular players in the clubhouse as well, admitted it will be difficult leaving behind many close friends.

"It’s been tough. Obviously it’s sad," he said. "The relationships that you build with your teammates, it’s more than just baseball. It’s the relationships you build off the field and our families being able to interact together and grow.

"Being here five years with (Brent) Suter and Tyrone (Tayor), all of those guys, watching each other grow up as players and people — that’s the biggest thing. The culture here is always fun, it’s always a pleasure to be around each other every day.

"That’s why you want to show up to the park, because of the atmosphere that’s here. It’s a shock to everybody but it’s part of the business."

Now that he's moving on, Hader was asked if he thinks his former setup man, Devin Williams, will be ready to step into the closer's role on a full-time basis.

Rogers is an option as well, with 28 saves on his ledger for the year.

"We’ve all seen what Devin has done over his career with the Brewers and how he’s gone about his business and what he can do and provide for the team," Hader said. "We’ve seen Rogers as well with the Padres and how he handles his thing. Really good, quality arms right there.

"Whether they put Rogers or Devin in the closing role, that’s obviously (Craig) Counsell's and (David) Stearns’s decision. But I think that back end of the bullpen is still going to stay solid."

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trade to Padres brings out a range of emotions for Josh Hader