Cubs Rumors: Bullpen could use Josh Hader’s arm, not at asking price

The Chicago Cubs could use Josh Hader’s arm–but not at the current asking price. What is going take to get it?

Ever since the Chicago Cubs 2018 one-game playoff and Josh Hader’s dominant two-inning save to give Milwaukee Brewers the NL Central Division title, I’ve hoped for a day to come when he would button up in Cubbie Blue. The idea of having a division rival that has torched your team in the past switch to your team is kind of a fan’s dream scenario, and the Cubs are in desperate need of some bullpen help.

The 2019 Reliever of the Year is, again, one of the most dominant. the problem has been, since the initial report in December, the asking price; it’s now (in large part to postseason contention) transitioned to “bananas.”

“Haderade” has been the best of the best in the shortened season. The Southpaw has seven saves and has not allowed a run in 9 1/3 innings. Who wouldn’t want that type addition to the bullpen?  The appeal of taking an arm like that form a division foe is astronomically enormous.

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With the MLB Trade Deadline rapidly approaching, some teams have expressed interest in Hader but have also made mentions of concern for his decrease in fastball velocity. The Brewers have argued that he’s throwing more breaking balls, and he has the best command he has had in his career.

Even with the interest and the Brewers listening to offers, the asking price can be attributed to the fact that the Brewers are still very much in the middle of a playoff race, and it should keep the Cubs far away from making an offer.

In my first article, as unpopular as it may have been, I described the last time the Cubs got a quality bullpen arm and the lasting impact it had on where the team is today. I simply fear that a landing of Hader would have the same effect. As impressive as the Brew Crew’s number 71 would look in their rivals uniform, I don’t like the risk behind the asking price.

Hader would undoubtedly be a great addition to the abysmal 2020 Cubs rotation. The problem is the asking price and how much it will rise since Milwaukee is still very alive in a playoff race. The extended Postseason doesn’t leave many teams out of the mix.

I do believe that the Cubs are in contention for the World Series, but they are more than one piece away from being heavy favorites. The risk of bringing in one high-end bullpen piece heavily outweighs the reward, in my opinion. As I wrote in my last article, I think David Ross is in critical need for finding help in the back end of the bullpen, but hopefully at a much lower cost.