Inside The Twins

Twins signing OF Harrison Bader to one-year deal with 2026 option

Bader is the Twins' second major league free agent addition in as many days.
Will Ragatz|
Aug 24, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; New York Mets center fielder Harrison Bader (44) celebrates while rounding the bases after hitting a home run against the San Diego Padres during the eighth inning at Petco Park.
Aug 24, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; New York Mets center fielder Harrison Bader (44) celebrates while rounding the bases after hitting a home run against the San Diego Padres during the eighth inning at Petco Park. | Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images

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Minnesota Twins

The Twins have officially woken up from their offseason slumber. One day after making lefty reliever Danny Coulombe their first major league free agent addition, they've signed veteran outfielder Harrison Bader, according to Jon Heyman. It's a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2026.

According to The Athletic, Bader is getting $6.25 million guaranteed, with another $2 million available in bonuses.

Bader checks a major box for the Twins as a right-handed bat who can play center field, giving them a much-needed insurance policy if and when Byron Buxton misses time due to injury. He follows in the footsteps of Manuel Margot (2024) and Michael A. Taylor (2023) in that same role.

There's reason to believe Bader could be more like Taylor than Margot, who had a dreadful season for Minnesota last year. Bader, who turns 31 this summer, had some strong seasons with the Cardinals earlier in his career before becoming a bit of a journeyman in recent years.

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Originally a third-round pick out of Florida in 2015, Bader made his MLB debut with St. Louis two years later and was there until being traded in 2022. He was worth 3.4 WAR in 2018 and 3.8 in 2021, combining a decent offensive profile with very good defense in center field. Bader won the NL Gold Glove award at CF in 2021.

Bader was traded to the Yankees in 2022, wound up with the Reds in 2023, and spent last season with the Mets. He played in 143 games last season and was worth 0.9 WAR, hitting .236 with 12 home runs, 17 stolen bases, and a .657 OPS. Bader has mostly struggled at the plate since leaving St. Louis, but he remains a good outfield defender with speed on the bases and a bit of pop in his bat.

Across his eight-year MLB career, Bader has hit .242 with 71 homers, 94 steals, and a .698 OPS while playing excellent defense. He also randomly hit five home runs in nine games for the Yankees in the 2022 postseason.

Bader figures to play quite a bit for the Twins in 2025. He can fill in for Buxton in CF and also has some experience playing in the corner spots in the outfield, where he could be a platoon option for Rocco Baldelli when the Twins are facing a lefty (he has a .776 career OPS against LHP).

Ideally, Bader will mostly be a backup who fills in Buxton in center and for Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach in the corners. But given Buxton's injury history, there's unfortunately a strong chance he'll fill an every day role for at least part of this season.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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