3 Padres who could be playing for the Dodgers next season

The San Diego Padres could lose three key free agents to the division rival Dodgers this offseason.

Blake Snell during the 2023 season with the Padres
Blake Snell during the 2023 season with the Padres | Sean M. Haffey/GettyImages
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2) Josh Hader

The Dodgers bullpen wound up being a strength in 2023 with the team ranking third with a 3.42 bullpen ERA. With that in mind, Los Angeles can turn that from a strength to potentially the best bullpen in all of baseball by bringing one of, if not the, best closers in the game.

The Dodgers have a much bigger need in the rotation, but they can also look to shorten games thanks to their stout bullpen. Adding a guy like Hader to ensure the ninth inning is on lock certainly wouldn't be a bad thing.

The Dodgers can have Evan Phillips pitch the eighth, and guys like Brusdar Graterol and Caleb Ferguson help in the middle innings. It's not a need, but it lengthens out the bullpen so much.

Hader was one star that actually lived up to the billing in 2023. He had a 1.28 ERA and recorded 33 saves for San Diego this season. He was an All-Star and could very easily be the NL Reliever of the Year. If the Dodgers fail to bring in a high-end starter, building a monster bullpen could be their path to winning in 2024. Adding Hader would go a long way there.

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