Mets Reportedly Sign Ex-Cardinals Gold Glove Winner To Bolster Outfield
The St. Louis Cardinals have areas to improve before Opening Day next season but the outfield is not one of them.
The Cardinals have an abundance of outfielders and traded away Tyler O'Neill this winter to solve the logjam of players in that position.
With that being said, it's no surprise to see the Cardinals pass up on a reunion with a former outfielder who has reportedly signed with a National League foe.
"Harrison Bader has agreed to a one-year, $10.5 million deal with the (New York) Mets," MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported Thursday.
Bader hit .246 with 135 extra-base hits including 52 home runs, 168 RBIs, and a .729 OPS throughout his six-season career in St. Louis.
The 29-year-old also won a Gold Glove while playing for the Cardinals in 2021 but was eventually traded to the New York Yankees the following season in a deal for highly-coveted pitcher Jordan Montgomery.
The former Cardinals outfielder spent the latter half of his 2023 season with the Cincinnati Reds but was plagued with injury. When healthy, Bader can be a solid outfield depth option that will surely help the Mets who are scarce in that department.
In the meantime, the Cardinals will continue to hunt for ways to bolster the pitching staff to ensure that 2024 will pan out differently than last season did.
More MLB: Cardinals Could Help Fix Bullpen By Adding Ex-Yankees All-Star In Free Agency
