5 trade destinations for Josh Hader should the San Diego Padres decide to sell

3) Padres trade destinations for Josh Hader: Boston Red Sox

A month ago, it was hard to envision seeing the Boston Red Sox as buyers, but they have played very well over the last month, climbed out of the AL East basement, and are very much alive for a Wild Card spot.

Their starting rotation has been hit hard with injuries, but they have been getting young arms like Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford to step up and carry the load, along with using an opener every fifth day. GM Chaim Bloom is in search of arms for his bullpen and Hader is a difference-maker that would create a tough 1-2 combination with veteran All-Star Kenley Jansen.

The futures of Chris Sale, Garrett Whitlock, and Corey Kluber are still up in the air, but Nick Pivetta has been very good for Boston out of the pen as they are looking to build from the backend out. Offensively, the Red Sox are mashing the ball and their pitching has held up, but getting a backend arm as good as Hader's is a game-changer in the Wild Card race.

The Red Sox generally don't buy high under Bloom, but this team right now feels different, and getting an arm like Hader's is a big advantage in a postseason series.