Brewers Manager Craig Counsell Speaks Out Against Arbitration System in Wake of Josh Hader's Case

Surprising news dropped Friday when it was revealed that Milwaukee Brewers reliever Josh Hader lost his arbitration case. He had asked for $6.4 million, but the Brewers won out in the proceedings. As a result, he'll make $4.1 million in 2020.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell came to the defense of Hader when he called out the arbitration system as a whole, calling for significant reform.

Craig Counsell on Josh Hader losing his arbitration case: "Look, I'm disappointed for Josh. A system that doesn't reward Josh Hader doesn't make sense to me."
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) February 15, 2020

Counsell has a point. Hader has been to two straight All-Star Games and has a career ERA of 2.62 in three seasons. He also had 37 saves in 2019 -- being judged by an arbitrator to be worth just a hair over $4 million for the 2020 season calls the whole process into question.

Josh Hader said he and CAA representation felt they were underdogs in his case and used “outdated” multiple times to describe the arbitration system, citing unique position of how relievers are used.
— Sophia Minnaert (@SophiaMinnaert) February 14, 2020

One important thing to note is that Hader is only in his first year of arbitration, and the the track record for relief pitchers in such situations is decidedly modest. But Hader out to be the exception here if there ever was one, right? That's Counsell's beef.

This could be a key sticking point for the players when a new collective bargaining agreement must be hammered out with the league. Limiting and manipulating salary is not good for baseball in the long run, with this latest misadventure driving the point home further.