New York Yankees Could Extend Young Star
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There's no question that center fielder Harrison Bader has been a very good player for the New York Yankees.
The Yankees acquired Bader from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Jordan Montgomery at last season's trade deadline.
Bader quickly became a fan favorite after hitting .333 with five home runs in the postseason.
Despite missing the first month of the regular season with an oblique strain, Bader is now back and serving as a spark plug in the Yankees' lineup: .250 average, .770 OPS, five home runs, 17 RBI.
So, with his contract expiring after the season ends, the Yankees could potentially give Bader a long-term extension.
"I absolutely love it here," Bader recently told Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "Are you kidding me? It’s a blessing every day. It’s an iconic jersey. It’s so much bigger than me. It’s amazing."
Bader went on to say he loves playing for the Yankees so much that he'd "do this s--- for free."
If you're looking for an additional example of Bader's impact, the Yankees were 15-15 with him on the IL, but since he has returned they've gone 15-7.
According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, the Yankees and Bader's camp have delayed talks for now.
Regardless of talks being delayed, the Yankees could still come back to the table with Bader and come to an agreement on a team friendly deal before the season concludes.
If not, there will be some competition for Bader in free agency, as he is one of the few center fielders in baseball that can mash, as well as play the field.
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- White Sox Reportedly Shopping Ace, Yankees Should be Interested
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