Phillies Zeroing in on Exciting Craig Kimbrel Replacement

The Philadelphia Phillies' second straight postseason falling short of a World Series title certainly exposed some flaws on this roster. Having dependable bullpen arms available in high-leverage situations was an obvious sore spot, as Craig Kimbrel's struggles in late-game scenarios played a direct role in two costly losses to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

With Kimbrel now a free agent, the Phillies have a chance to pursue a massive upgrade, and it appears the organization is doing just that.

Josh Hader Phillies Rumors

MLB Network insider Jon Morosi reports that Philadelphia is a "strong candidate" to sign closer Josh Hader. The Phillies aren't the only World Series hopeful in the mix, though, with the reigning champion Texas Rangers pursuing the lefty as well.

Hader is the exact kind of player that could solidify Philadelphia's bullpen for years to come. He's earned All-Star nods in five of his past six seasons and even garnered some Cy Young votes with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018. He's racked up a whopping 165 saves during this stretch as well, cementing himself as one of the best closers in the game.

Even more impressively, Hader has kept up his excellence despite his move to the San Diego Padres at the 2022 MLB Trade Deadline. In his first full season with the Padres, the 29-year-old posted a minuscule 1.28 ERA across 61 appearances and a staggering mark of 13.6 strikeouts per nine innings. His 33 saves also tied for the eighth-most in the majors, and he only blew 5 chances all year.

Hader's incredible resume, coupled with his experience pitching for playoff contenders, makes him the perfect target for Dave Dombrowski this offseason. It'll be tough to sway him away from joining the 2023 champs, but the chance to help deliver the Phillies a title and remain in the National League could help the team's free-agent pitch.

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