Stay or Go: Should the Phillies re-sign Harrison Bader?

Here’s Part 1 of Phillies Nation’s Stay or Go series.

Should the Phillies re-sign outfielder Harrison Bader this offseason? He has a $10 million mutual option for 2026 with a $3 million buyout. The player has the right to accept or decline the option first. Bader is expected to decline his end of the mutual option and test the market.

Bader was traded from the Minnesota Twins to the Phillies at the 2025 trade deadline. He became the Phillies’ everyday center fielder shortly after the trade and produced both at the plate and on defense. Bader slashed .305/.361/.463 with five home runs and 16 RBIs in 194 plate appearances with the Phillies.

Should the Phillies bring back Bader? Our writers weigh in. Vote in the poll below and we’ll reveal the results for all players at the end of the series.

Destiny Lugardo — Site Director — Stay

Whether you believe in the bat long-term or not, Bader’s glove is worth paying for. I do think people are underestimating how much Bader could seek in the market as an elite defensive center fielder coming off a career year at the plate. He might not get a three-year deal worth $50 million, the same contract the Phillies gave Andrew McCutchen heading into this age 32 season prior to 2019, but it would be a reasonable ask considering the shortage of outfield talent on the free-agent market. The Phillies and many other teams should aggressively pursue Bader this offseason.

Ty Daubert — Staff Writer — Maybe

Bader had a career year in 2025 with the Twins and Phillies, and his arrival in Philadelphia at the trade deadline provided his new club with both a spark and the kind of reliable center fielder that it was desperately missing. The Phillies, with clear holes in their outfield, could benefit from Bader’s presence in 2026 and even beyond. The terms of a potential free-agent contract, assuming he does indeed decline his end of a mutual option, should be the deciding factor. A one-year deal for Bader would be a win for the Phillies. A two-year contract could be reasonable as well. But a three-year pact for the 31-year-old could end up being too long. There are reasons to be concerned about Bader regressing at the plate after a big jump this season. His glove could potentially cover up an offensive drop-off for a season or two, but three years sounds like one too many.

Nathan Ackerman — Staff Writer — Stay

Is Bader the .305/.824 hitter that he was with the Phillies? No. Is he even the .258/.778 hitter he was with the Twins before the deadline? Probably also not. But the Phillies have to overhaul basically their entire outfield this season, and of the two likeliest players (Justin Crawford and Brandon Marsh) to factor into the 2026 equation, neither is a reliable everyday center fielder. Bader is, and there’s something to the overall affect he brought to the team after he was sent from Minnesota: He plays with his hair on fire, he has an edge. The aging, often stale Phillies need that. (On a two-year contract.) Especially for, what? $12 million a year tops? Find me a better realistic alternative.

Bailey Digh — Staff Writer — Go

The Phillies are likely going to remake their outfield this offseason. The organization is also likely going to give Crawford a real shot at making the 2026 Opening Day roster. I’m not sure Bader’s bat will ever be as good as it was in 2025. And with questions surrounding Crawford’s offensive potential, having him and Bader in the same outfield would mean at least two-thirds of the Phillies’ outfield could be a minus at the plate next season. Sound familiar? I’m also not sure it’d be smart for the Phillies to sign Bader to the kind of deal he’ll command. Their resources would be better spent elsewhere.