Dave Dombrowski comments on Harrison Bader’s free agency
Harrison Bader is looking to cash in on a career year.
The 31-year-old outfielder posted a .796 OPS in 501 plate appearances with the Twins and Phillies in 2025. He signed one-year deals in each of the last two offseasons and should be able to secure a multi-year contract this time around.
The Phillies have interest in bringing him back. Dave Dombrowski made that clear in October at his end-of-year press conference. He reiterated the club’s stance on Bader on Wednesday at the general managers’ meetings in Las Vegas.
“They know we have interest,” Dombrowski told reporters, including The Athletic’s Matt Gelb. “They know that we’d like to bring him back. They also had expressed that they want to see what’s out there because this was the best year he’s had, I think, in quite a while.”
Where Bader’s market ends up will be fascinating to watch. This year’s free agent class is very short on viable right-handed hitting outfield bats. Bader’s excellent defense in center field gives him a high floor, but prior to this season, Bader has had only two full seasons with an OPS+ above league average in 2018 and 2021. There is risk in signing Bader only for him to revert back to being a below-average hitter.
But he has made sustainable adjustments that led to his success this season. He posted the highest hard-hit rate of his career at 40.3%. His average bat speed increased significantly, from 71.2% (38th percentile among major league hitters) in 2024 to 73.5% (71st percentile).
If the Phillies do not retain Bader, they could target a corner outfield bat either through trade or free agency. Kyle Tucker is the biggest name on the market, but it will take a hefty commitment to land him. Tucker could be an option if the Phillies do not re-sign Kyle Schwarber.
Acquiring at least one outfielder is a must for the Phillies. Bader and Max Kepler are free agents. Nick Castellanos is unlikely to return for the final season of his five-year, $100 million deal. He could either be traded or released. Top outfield prospect Justin Crawford has a strong chance to break camp with the Phillies. Gabriel Rincones Jr. will likely be added to the 40-man roster next week. He could be a platoon option for the Phillies next year.
Bader has played for six different teams in his nine-year career. He was traded from the St. Louis Cardinals to the New York Yankees for Jordan Montgomery at the 2022 deadline. He was placed on waivers by his hometown Yankees in 2023 and claimed by the Cincinnati Reds. Bader signed a one-year, $10.5 million deal with the Mets prior to the 2024 season. He latched on with the Minnesota Twins on a one-year, $6.25 million deal in 2025. Bader was traded for a second time in his career to the Phillies at the 2025 trade deadline.
As the club’s everyday center fielder for the final two months of the season, Bader provided a spark. He batted .305 with five home runs and an .824 OPS. He suffered a hamstring injury in Game 1 of the NLDS, limiting him to pinch hit appearances off the bench for the remainder of the series. He talked about his short time with the Phillies in the locker room following the Game 4 loss to the Dodgers.
“It really was an absolute pleasure getting dealt here,” Bader said. “Just getting the opportunity to not only play alongside so many players I’ve respected for a long time, but also just in front of an incredible fanbase that really gave us a lot of support down the stretch.”