The Twins have officially woken up from their offseason slumber with their second major signing. After adding lefty reliever Danny Coulombe to their roster, they have now signed veteran outfielder Harrison Bader to bolster their outfield. The one-year deal includes a mutual option for 2026.
Bader brings a much-needed right-handed bat to the Twins’ lineup and provides insurance in center field, especially in the event of Byron Buxton’s absence due to injury. He follows in the footsteps of Manuel Margot and Michael A. Taylor as free agent additions who can fulfill the same role.
There is optimism that Bader can have a positive impact similar to Taylor rather than Margot, who struggled last season. At 31 years old, Bader had some impressive seasons with the Cardinals earlier in his career before becoming a journeyman in recent years.
Originally drafted in the third round out of Florida in 2015, Bader made his MLB debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017 and remained with the team until being traded in 2022. He showcased his value with 3.4 WAR in 2018 and 3.8 WAR in 2021, combining solid offensive production with exceptional defense in center field. Bader even won the NL Gold Glove award for his position in 2021.
Since leaving St. Louis, Bader has had stints with the Yankees in 2022, the Reds in 2023, and the Mets last season. In 143 games last year, he contributed 0.9 WAR while hitting .236 with 12 home runs, 17 stolen bases, and a .657 OPS. Although his offensive performance has been inconsistent, Bader remains a valuable outfield defender with speed on the bases and some power in his bat.
Throughout his eight-year MLB career, Bader has maintained a .242 batting average with 71 home runs, 94 stolen bases, and a .698 OPS. Notably, he hit five home runs in just nine games during the 2022 postseason with the Yankees.
2025シーズンでは、バーダーがツインズにとって重要な役割を果たすことが期待されています。彼はセンター・フィールドでバクストンの代わりを務めることができ、コーナー・アウトフィールドのポジションでの経験もあるため、左投手に対するプラトーンオプションとしての可能性があります。バーダーは左投手に対してキャリアOPSが.776です。
理想的には、バーダーは主にバックアップとして機能し、センター・フィールドでバクストンをサポートし、コーナー・アウトフィールドのマット・ウォルナーやトレバー・ラーナックの代わりを務めることになります。しかし、バクストンの怪我の歴史を考えると、シーズン中にバーダーが日常的な役割を担う可能性が高いです。
ハリソン・バーダーの加入により、ツインズは来るシーズンに向けてロースターを強化するためのさらなるステップを踏みました。彼の存在はアウトフィールドに深みと多様性を提供し、ラインアップに貴重な右打ちのバットを加えることになります。ツインズが動きを続ける中、ファンは2025シーズンのチームのパフォーマンスを心待ちにしています。
