MMO Trade Profile: Harrison Bader, OF

Position: OF B/T: R/R
Age: 31 (06/03/1994)

2025 Traditional Stats: 298 PA, .255/.336/.441/.777, 67 H, 30 R, 12 HR, 38 RBI, 9 SB
2025 Advanced Stats:  118 wRC+, 26.2% K%, 8.7% BB%, .314 BABiP, .307 xwOBA, 2.0  fWAR, 2.4 bWAR, 5 OAA
Contract Status: Signed through 2025 for $6.25 million; mutual option in 2026 includes a $1.5 million buyout

RUNDOWN

A familiar face has resurfaced in the Mets’ search for a center fielder: Harrison Bader, who played a significant role on the 2024 team. Bader had a strong first half for the Mets but faded offensively down the stretch, leading them to trade for Jose Siri, a cheaper and similarly defense-first player, rather than re-sign Bader.

Bader signed with the Minnesota Twins for one year, $6.25 million. Siri broke his leg on April 12 and has been out ever since.

Meanwhile, Bader has bounced back at the plate this season in a big way, in addition to maintaining his typically stellar defense. The nine-year veteran has a slash line of .255/.336/.441/.777, which is up across the board compared to his career 162-game average (.243/.309/.397/.706). Bader’s 12 home runs match last year’s total with the Mets – in 139 fewer plate appearances, no less – and are just four shy of his career high.

Bader has been even better at the plate recently, perhaps easing concerns over another second-half decline. In his last 28 games, he’s hitting .278 with five home runs and a .972 OPS. His splits are encouraging, too. Bader has a .778 OPS with seven homers against righties, and a .774 OPS with five homers against lefties in 105 fewer at-bats.

With Byron Buxton patrolling center field for the Twins, Bader, a 2021 Gold Glove winner, has played mostly in right field (70 games there compared to 30 in center). But he is certainly no stranger to center field, having manned the position for the large majority of his career, including at Citi Field last year with the Mets.

Assuming David Stearns is interested in a Bader reunion, the Mets could face some stiff competition. Several teams have reportedly discussed trading for him, including the always-aggressive Dodgers, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale and the New York Post’s John Heyman, as well as the Yankees, per ESPN’s Buster Olney.

PACKAGE

Bader’s skill level and rental status indicate that a lower-level prospect, such as righty Douglas Orellana, No. 30 on Metsmerized’s top 50 Mets prospect list, could be enough to get him. However, the reported interest in Bader by teams like the Dodgers might drive up the price a bit. Maybe the Mets have to add a piece like fellow right-handed pitching prospect Joel Díaz, No. 33 on our prospect list.

For comparison sake, in the Mets trade for Siri, who they considered a suitable replacement for Bader, they gave up Eric Orze, who at the time was a 27-year-old right-handed reliever with just two Mets appearances under his belt. Orze had flashed his potential in Triple-A, with a 2.92 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 61 2/3 innings, and has been very good in the Tampa Rays bullpen this season.

Stearns could also up the ante and seek to include one of the Twins’ prized relievers to the deal, such as Griffin Jax, Brock Stewart, or elite closer Jhoan Durán. Minnesota would demand a much bigger haul of prospects/players for any of those three, particularly Durán, who would have the added benefit of providing the Mets with closer insurance in case Edwin Díaz opts out after this season.

RECOMMENDATION

If the Mets have a second chance to land Bader on the 2025 roster, and the cost is reasonable, they should jump on it. While a power-hitting outfielder such as Adolis Garcia or Luis Robert might be more impactful to the lineup, Bader would provide an upgrade offensively over Tyrone Taylor, plus similarly outstanding defense. He’s also familiar with the bright lights of New York City, having played playoff baseball for both the Mets and Yankees.

The current situation in center field is not dire. Given his defensive prowess, Taylor’s offensive ineptitude (.204/.260/.298/.559) can be tolerated if the rest of the bottom of the lineup continues hitting like it has lately. And Jeff McNeil has been serviceable in his center field appearances and productive at the plate. But acquiring Bader would allow Taylor to shift to roles he is more suited for – pinch hitter, pinch runner and the primary defensive replacement – and McNeil to return to his natural second base position.

Bader may not be the big-name upgrade in center field that Mets fans are dreaming of. But in what could be a down-to-the-wire race against the Phillies for the NL East crown, he could help make the difference.

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