Brewers super reliever Josh Hader won the 2018 National League Hoffman Reliever Award, an honor that historically has gone to closers.

But Hader is much more valuable than a traditional closer.

The lefty is the true definition of "Super Reliever." He recorded four or more outs in 33 different regular season games during 2018. He recorded six or more outs in 23 different regular season outings.

He hurled two nine-out relief outings during the postseason.

The Red Sox could have their own Josh Hader coming to Fenway Park soon.

Boston no longer has a top-ranked farm system like it did in 2015 when ownership hired president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. But the Red Sox have several interesting pitching prospects in the higher levels who project as late-inning setup men.

Travis Lakins, Darwinzon Hernandez and Durbin Feltman all potentially could be used in multi-inning relief roles.

These three pitchers, among others, could turn Boston's bullpen into its overwhelming strength the next two years with a modern structure that helps Boston put less emphasis on starting pitching.

Feltman, who Boston drafted 100th overall out of TCU in June, is a candidate to assume the closer role eventually.

Boston needs to groom him as a modern, versatile closer -- not a traditional closer. He certainly has the stuff to close. He has reached 99 mph with his fastball, and he also throws a wipeout slider. The Red Sox mostly used him for one-inning outings in his first couple months in the system. But he did record five outs in two different outings at High-A Salem.

The closer position has changed considerably the past few years. Teams want their closer able and willing to do more than just record the game's final three outs.

Dombrowski likely will move on from Craig Kimbrel, a traditional closer, unless his price tag drops.

As noted in a Nov. 5 MassLive.com column, the closer should pitch the eighth inning if that's the high-leverage inning against the middle of the order. The setup man then would pitch the lower-leverage ninth inning against the bottom half of the order. The best closers also are able to record more than three outs whenever needed.

The Red Sox converted Lakins to a reliever late in May last season. He posted a 1.21 ERA (37.1 innings, five earned runs) in 30 relief outings between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket.

He pitched more than one inning in 11 of his 30 relief outings, including eight times in his final nine appearances. He recorded six outs in four outings.

Lakins reaches 97 mph with his fastball and features an impressive slider.

The Red Sox will need to decide whether Hernandez has more value as a starting pitcher or relief pitcher moving forward.

Peter Gammons tweeted Nov. 4, "Watching Darwinzon Hernandez' 98 4-seamer and backdoor slider in the AFL allstar game last night makes one wonder if the Red Sox will have him in a 3-inning relief or opener role by August."

But Gammons also tweeted in August that one minor league coordinator told him, "I hope they don't put him in the pen. He can be a number two power starter in the big leagues, and quickly."

Feltman, Lakins and Hernandez all could make their major league debuts sometime in 2019.

Bullpens are becoming more important. Starting pitching is becoming less important. Rays manager Kevin Cash created "The Opener" position in 2018. Oakland's Bob Melvin even used an opener in the AL Wild Card game at Yankee Stadium.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora used the "bullpen game" strategy multiple times during 2018 instead of promoting a spot starter from Pawtucket.

Dombrowski already has said he does not feel the need to add an established fifth starter this offseason. The Red Sox could use Brian Johnson and Hector Velazquez as openers every fifth day.

The Red Sox seem to have the personnel to make the bullpen their strength in the next couple years.

Ryan Brasier is under team control through 2023. Matt Barnes is under team control through 2021. Both are options to serve as a versatile closer in 2019.

Mike Shawaryn, Tanner Houck and Bryan Mata will continue to start games in the minors this coming season but the Red Sox will need to evaluate whether are more valuable as relievers. Shawaryn could help the 2019 Red Sox as a spot starter, long reliever or potentially a middle reliever.

Chase Shugart is another interesting prospect to keep an eye on. He's another hard-throwing reliever who has the ability to help Boston in a couple of years. The Red Sox drafted the 22-year-old righty in the 12th round out of Texas this past June.