"Among the center fielders available in free agency, Harrison Bader stands as the best option in terms of defense. In 2025, he tied for 7th-best among qualified outfielders with 13 Defensive Runs Saved. Indeed, Bader has been worth a staggering 67 DRS along with 77 Outs Above Average dating back to his debut 2017 season. In 2025, Bader paired his typically excellent defense with a career-best offensive performance."
"In 501 plate appearances across 146 games between the Twins and Phillies, he batted .277/.347/.449 with a 122 wRC+ while setting a career high with 17 homers and upping his hard-hit rate to 40.3%. However, there are questions as to whether Bader's performance is sustainable, given that he batted .359 on balls in play, which was far above the league average of .291."
"A reunion with the Phillies would make plenty of sense. Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and Ranger Suarez are all free agents, and though the club would love to bring Schwarber back, there might be some available payroll if the other two end up leaving. In general, the Phillies' outfield defense has not been a strong suit in recent years. In 2025, Brandon Marsh and were roughly average in the field,"
Harrison Bader offers elite center field defense, totaling 67 Defensive Runs Saved and 77 Outs Above Average since his 2017 debut, and tied for seventh among qualified outfielders with 13 DRS in 2025. He combined that defense with a career-best offensive year in 2025, hitting .277/.347/.449 with a 122 wRC+, 17 home runs, and a 40.3% hard-hit rate across 501 plate appearances. His .359 batting average on balls in play raises sustainability concerns compared with a .291 league average. Projections peg him for a two-year, $26MM contract, with the Phillies a logical fit given outfield defensive needs.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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