Inside The Cardinals

AL Central Contender Reportedly Signs Ex-Cardinals Fan Favorite To One-Year Deal

The former St. Louis Gold Glove defender is on the move again
Nate Hagerty|
Jun 8, 2022; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals fans Mallory Taylor (left, age 10) sister Josephine Taylor (middle, age 10), and Bill Goldschmitt (right) get autographs from St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Harrison Bader (48) before the Tampa Bay Rays play the St. Louis Cardinals at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Dave Nelson-Imagn Images
Jun 8, 2022; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals fans Mallory Taylor (left, age 10) sister Josephine Taylor (middle, age 10), and Bill Goldschmitt (right) get autographs from St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Harrison Bader (48) before the Tampa Bay Rays play the St. Louis Cardinals at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Dave Nelson-Imagn Images | Dave Nelson-Imagn Images

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St. Louis CardinalsMinnesota Twins

The only way the St. Louis Cardinals have been involved in free agent talks this offseason is if a former player is mentioned as an option for another team.

For instance, former Cardinals five-time Gold Glove defender Jason Heyward was recently linked to the San Diego Padres as a potential landing spot this offseason.

Another former St. Louis player is in the news after reportedly inking a one-year deal with an American League Central contender.

"Harrison Bader to (Minnesota) Twins," New York Post's Jon Heyman first reported on Wednesday. "one-year deal plus a mutual option for 2026."

Bader was selected in the third round of the 2015 draft by the Cardinals and batted .246 with 135 extra-base hits including 52 home runs, 168 RBIs and a .729 OPS throughout six seasons spent playing for St. Louis, during which he became a fan favorite.

Since leaving St. Louis, Bader's offensive production has slowed but he remains a Gold Glove outfielder with plenty of postseason experience from his time with the Cardinals, New York Yankees and New York Mets.

The 30-year-old batted .236 with 31 extra-base hits including 12 home runs, 51 RBIs and a .657 OPS in 143 games played for the Mets in 2024.

Although Bader could've been a logical reunion candidate, the Cardinals have plenty of young outfielders to test in 2025, so re-signing him this winter would've been a mistake.

The Cardinals will rely on breakout seasons from Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, Michael Siani, Jordan Walker and Victor Scott II to carry them in the outfield for this upcoming season.

More MLB: Beloved Ex-Cardinals All-Star Predicted To Sign With Twins Amid Quiet Offseason

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Nate Hagerty
NATE HAGERTY

Nate Hagerty joined “Inside The Cardinals” as a content creator to spread knowledge about his favorite childhood team. A hometown native of Boston, Hagerty chose at an early age of six years old to follow the St. Louis Cardinals. The miraculous season of 04’ for the Red Sox did not deter Hagerty from rooting against his hometown team, nor did it in 2013 against the Red Birds. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu 

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