Josh Hader, Milwaukee Brewers. (Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports)
The Milwaukee Brewers and closer Josh Hader were able to avoid arbitration on Friday.
The Milwaukee Brewers and their superstar close Josh Hader were able to avoid arbitration, as Hader settled for $6.675 million for the upcoming 2021 MLB season.
Hader has spent his entire four-year big league career in Milwaukee. He is a two-time NL All-Star and a two-time receiver of the Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year award. Milwaukee may have been a .500 team last season, but the Brewers are one of the teams who could win the NL Central, possibly play spoiler to go a bit farther in 2021. Can they do it?
How good can the 2021 Milwaukee Brewers be?
Milwaukee is fortunate that it plays in the weakest of the three NL divisions. While the NL Central sent four of its five teams to the postseason last year, all four bowed out in the NL Wild Card round. Milwaukee tried to holds its own vs. the top-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers, but did so to no avail. However, the Brewers may have what it takes to win the division crown this season.
Odds are the Brewers’ biggest challenger in the NL Central will be the St. Louis Cardinals. This is because people largely expect the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs to pull back. As for the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates, they are clearly rebuilding. It will come down to head-to-head matchups, but the Brewers have the star power and versatility to hang tough with the Redbirds in 2021.
Milwaukee can win the NL Central, but is not destined to be anything more than an NLDS team.