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.
In the 2025 season, Bader is expected to play a significant role for the Twins. He can fill in for Buxton in center field and has experience playing in the corner outfield positions, making him a potential platoon option against left-handed pitchers. Bader holds a career OPS of .776 against lefties.
Ideally, Bader will primarily serve as a backup, providing support for Buxton in center field and filling in for Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach in the corner outfield spots. However, given Buxton’s injury history, there is a strong possibility that Bader will assume an everyday role at some point during the season.
With the addition of Harrison Bader, the Twins have taken another step towards strengthening their roster for the upcoming season. His presence will provide depth and versatility to the outfield while adding a valuable right-handed bat to the lineup. As the Twins continue to make moves, fans eagerly anticipate the team’s performance in the 2025 season.