The New York Yankees have reportedly “checked in” and could entertain the possibility of a reunion with free agent right-handed hitting center fielder Harrison Bader, according to Jack Curry of Yes Network.
Curry further mentioned the Yankees “looking for another right-handed hitter in a lineup that’s left-handed dominated”, stated Curry. Bader is one name that comes to mind, as well as right-handed hitting left fielder Austin Hays, another free agent, who the Yankees have also “expressed interest” in, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post in a tweet yesterday. The Yankees’ need for an outfielder grows if they lose Cody Bellinger in free agency, who, according to Heyman, is “weighing interest from the Yankees, Mets, and two other teams”, stated Heyman in a tweet.
Bader Excelled As A Hitter In Philadelphia
Bader, age 31, posted arguably his best season in 2025, in which he split time between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies after being traded to Philadelphia at the 2025 MLB trade deadline. Bader posted a combined 4.0 WAR between Minnesota and Philadelphia, hitting for a .277 batting average with 17 home runs a .347 OBP, .796 OPS and 117 OPS+, all career high’s spanning 9 seasons in the big leagues.
Bader also maintained his reputation for being an elite defender in center field, posting a 7 (OAA) outs above average rating, which ranks in the 92nd percentile amongst MLB outfielders in 2025, according to Baseball Savant. Bader is from Bronxville, New York, and came up with the Cardinals in 2017 as a player who could run and play incredible defense, but was never really known for his offensive game, until he was traded to Philadelphia the previous summer.
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Bader Has A Strong Postseason Track Record
In 50 games down the stretch in 2025 with Philadelphia, Bader posted a 1.3 WAR with a .305 batting average, 5 home runs, and an .824 OPS. He turned into a completely different hitter after the trade, contributing to the Phillies’ run towards the playoffs. Bader is no stranger to success in the biggest moments during October.
After Harrison Bader was traded from the St Louis Cardinals to the New York Yankees at the 2022 MLB trade deadline, Bader hit for a .333 batting average, 5 home runs, 6 RBI’s, and 9 runs scored in 9 postseason games for the Yankees between the 2022 ALDS and ALCS, according to StatMuse.
During the regular season, however, from late 2022 through 2023, Bader compiled 1.9 WAR for the Yankees in 98 games, batting .237 with 7 home runs and a .627 OPS. Bader was then placed on waivers by the Yankees in late August of 2023 and was then claimed by the Cincinnati Reds, where he would finish out the remainder of the 2023 season before signing a free agent contract with the New York Mets.
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Yankees Options In Free Agency Are Limited
While his offensive ceiling throughout his career has been murky, it’s known what kind of player Harrison Bader is on defense and what he could provide the Yankees again if they have to pivot away from Cody Bellinger. In a limited free agency class with Tucker signed already to the Dodgers and Bo Bichette going to the Mets, the options are limited in terms of how the Yankees fill out the rest of their roster, especially in the outfield. Bader could be a name they give a second chance to if Bellinger doesn’t return in free agency, and that’s something ultimately Yankees GM Brian Cashman needs to figure out himself.
If the Yankees don’t re-sign Bellinger or go after a Harrison Bader or Austin Hays in free agency, then, as things currently stand, left field will be an open competition in spring training camp between young outfielders Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones, which Cashman mentioned the possibility of publicly several months prior.
Yankees Could Entertain Harrison Bader Reunion If Bellinger Doesn’t Return