The decision has been made. Left-hander Josh Hader will open the 2018 season in the Milwaukee Brewers’ bullpen, where he excelled as a rookie last year.
General manager David Stearns made that declaration Sunday at the club’s “On Deck” fan event, removing any speculation that Hader might return to the starting role in which he pitched through the minor leagues. Basically, the Brewers decided if it wasn’t broken, don’t fix it, but they also feel comfortable with their starting pitching depth despite Jimmy Nelson’s ongoing recovery from shoulder surgery.
Since the end of the season, the Brewers have signed a pair of free-agent starters, Jhoulys Chacin and Yovani Gallardo. Zach Davies and Chase Anderson are coming off big years and Brent Suter also showed he could fill in adequately in the rotation.
“It's a combination of the arms we've been able to add, (Hader’s) success in the pen, how we'd like to begin the season and the way our roster is shaping up to begin the season,” Stearns explained. “You put all that together and at this point, our plan is to start him in the pen.
“Josh was a very successful reliever for us last year. We think he can certainly start and frankly, we think he will start at some point in his career. Whether that happens at points this year or not, we don't know yet, but his likely beginning spot for our team is in the bullpen, and we’ll take it from there.”
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Hader became a crucial part of the Brewers’ bullpen last season as they battled until the penultimate day of the season before being eliminated from the wild-card race. Used often to get more than three outs, he pitched 47 2/3 innings over 35 appearances, posting a 2.08 ERA with 68 strikeouts and a 0.986 WHIP.
The good news for the Brewers is that the laid-back Hader doesn’t seem to care whether he starts or relieves. His attitude is that being in the big leagues is the main thing, and that pitching is pitching, no matter the role.
“You still have to get outs, starting or relieving, so it’s just making sure I’m healthy and my mechanics are consistent,” Hader said. “I just want to keep perfecting my pitches and doing the best I can.
“I’m just trying to stay here and pitch as long as I can in the big leagues. If that’s starting or relieving, I’m in for whatever. They said I’ll stay with the role I had. I like coming in late in games but anything works for me as long as I’m able to pitch. We have a really good rotation already so being in the pen will benefit me and the team.”
Staying patient: Nelson made it clear that there is no timetable, at this time, for his return to action. He remains optimistic and already is doing some light throwing but until he progresses through his rehab program during spring training, it’s only guesswork when he’ll rejoin the rotation.
“There is no timeline, really. That’s one question I get the most,” said Nelson, who tore the labrum in his right shoulder diving back into first base at Wrigley Field in early September. “My injury is not a cut-and-dry thing like when someone pulls a hamstring and we have a lot of literature on this and the rehab program.
“This is one of those things where there are the basics to the throwing program and the rehab and soft guesses, but that’s all it is really. It could be weeks (that go) better or there could be setbacks once you get deeper into the throwing program. I think we’ll have a better feel for this thing once I get a month or two into the throwing program.”
Nelson is a famously hard worker on the team, so there are no worries about him doing what’s necessary to move his rehab forward in good time. In fact, he admitted the toughest thing is to rein it back and not try to get ahead of himself.
“I’ve said before that I feel bad for my wife a little bit because I only see her two to three hours per day,” said Nelson, who has pulled out all the stops, including using a hyperbaric chamber to facilitate the healing process. “This off-season, I’m doing everything I can to get back healthy.
“We have a great training staff. Sometimes they do have to pull the reins on me a little bit, but I understand that is always for my best interest. I think it is better to be that way than the other way. That’s something I’ve always kind of taken pride in. As far as the throwing program, workouts and all that type of stuff, they’ve always had to pull me back versus kind of getting me to do stuff.”
Stearns said the Brewers have no concerns whatsoever that Nelson will get ready as soon as possible, but he, too, cautioned against any timetables at this stage.
“We want Jimmy to push himself as much as he can but we'll probably have to reign Jimmy in at points and help him understand that this is a process, that it takes time to come back from this kind of injury,” Stearns said.
“We'll know more and have a more concrete time frame as Jimmy gets into his throwing program. He just started tossing a little bit this last week so we have a little time to go before we can really measure where Jimmy is and where we think he's going to be at certain points of the season.”
Wait and see:Domingo Santana's immediate reaction to the news that the Brewers added Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain was much like everyone else's who either plays for, works for or follows the team.
"I was excited," he said. "They're a couple of legit outfielders. They've shown they're really good players. It's really awesome that they're coming to help the team."
But where does their addition leave Santana, the 25-year-old who's coming off a career year in 2017?
In 151 games, he hit .278 with 30 home runs and 85 runs batted in while compiling an .875 OPS -- numbers that in a continuing rebuild seemingly would make him a foundation piece. And with the Brewers likely on the hunt for more starting pitching, Santana's spot on the team all of a sudden appears a little less secure.
"Obviously (it's a numbers game in the outfield) but the end of the day I can’t think of that," said Santana, whose name has been floated as possible trade bait since baseball's winter meetings in early December. "I have to come prepared for anything. I have to be healthy and prepare for anything."
Santana has been traded twice previously -- from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Houston Astros in 2011 and from the Astros to the Brewers in 2015 -- so at the very least he's learned how to shift gears quickly.
Still, that doesn't mean he wants to move on. With the Brewers now in contend mode, Santana hopes to remain part of the core that helps the team take the next step.
"It makes it a little bit easier because you know what to expect," he said. "I hope I stay here and contribute like I did last year. I’m looking forward for what's next."
The numbers game: One of the biggest laughs of the day came when Cain related a conversation he had with third base coach Ed Sedar about giving up his No. 6, so Cain could wear it.
"I asked him what number he was going to switch to and he told me since I got $80 million (in a five-year deal), he might switch to No. 80," Cain said with a big smile.
Still wearing his No. 6 jersey at the event, Sedar revealed an ingenious plan when asked what number he might seek.
"I'm going to pick as many numbers as possible (of players) that we might get," Sedar said. "That way, maybe I can retire early."
Who's No. 1: It's an honor to be named opening day starter but that has become something of a jinx with the Brewers. The last three pitchers to open the season -- Kyle Lohse, Wily Peralta and Junior Guerra -- didn't exactly flourish afterward. Only Guerra is still in the organization and he will have to win a job this spring.
"After the last three opening days, we have to reassess a little bit about that," manager Craig Counsell said. "Chase, Zach and Chacin are going to be in the rotation at this point.
"The next group I see together really, and that would be (Brandon) Woodruff, Suter, Gallardo, Guerra and (Aaron) Wilkerson. That group, I see together and where we are going to make some decisions. Some of that can spill over to the bullpen, as well. That’s how I am looking at our starters right now."