1 month agoThe Athletic's Dan Hayes writes that Minnesota Twins outfielder
Harrison Bader, who is primarily a center fielder and won a Gold Glove at the position in 2021, will see a significant amount of playing time in left field in 2025 in his first year in Minnesota. Bader's last 651 defensive appearances have come in center field dating back to 2018. However,
Byron Buxton is entrenched in center field. The 30-year-old veteran has only logged 58 2/3 innings in the majors in left field, but he has experience in the corners from his days in college. Bader's best asset is his glove, so fantasy-wise, RotoBaller doesn't have him ranked as a top-100 outfielder going into 2025. He had a .496 OPS in his final 157 plate appearances last year with the Mets and started just twice in 12 playoff games last fall. Bader can be useful in deeper fantasy leagues with his modest power/speed profile.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
2 months agoThe New York Post's Jon Heyman reports that free-agent outfielder
Harrison Bader has signed with the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday on an undisclosed one-year deal that includes a mutual option for the 2026 season. Bader will essentially head to spring training this year as Minnesota's fourth outfielder but also as a much-needed insurance policy for oft-injured center fielder
Byron Buxton. The 30-year-old Bader spent all of 2024 with the New York Mets, slashing .236/.284/.373 with a below-average .657 OPS, 12 home runs, 51 RBI, 17 stolen bases and 57 runs scored in 437 plate appearances over 143 regular-season games. Don't expect him to see as much playing time in Minnesota if Buxton stays healthy, but he'll be a nice option against left-handed pitchers with a career .776 OPS versus southpaws. He has an elite glove and will be a modest power/speed contributor in deeper fantasy formats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
6 months agoNew York Mets outfielder
Harrison Bader and designated hitter
J.D. Martinez are both starting against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander
Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday at Citi Field.
Tyrone Taylor and
Jesse Winker will retreat to the bench. Taylor has struggled in the postseason, going 4-for-29 with an RBI, so the Mets will give Bader a shot. Bader is a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI this year against Yamamoto, although he has just one hit in seven at-bats with a strikeout and three runs scored in 10 games (one start) for the Mets in October. Martinez made his first start of the NLCS on Wednesday night and went 0-for-2 with two walks and two strikeouts. He has never faced Yamamoto and has gone 4-for-16 (.250) with three RBI, four walks and a run scored in seven games (four starts) this October.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Mets
7 months agoNew York Mets catcher
Francisco Alvarez, third baseman
Mark Vientos and outfielder
Harrison Bader are all retreating to the bench for Thursday's series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
Luis Torrens is doing the catching and batting ninth,
Jose Iglesias is at the hot corner and hitting seventh, and
Brandon Nimmo is in center field and batting third against D-backs right-hander
Ryne Nelson. Nimmo is obviously the most attractive DFS play of the trio in the three-hole and he has two hits in four career at-bats against Nelson. Alvarez has hits in both of his last two games, but he could use a break after going just 2-for-24 with 10 strikeouts in his last eight games since Aug. 20. Vientos has taken advantage of
Brett Baty's continued disappointment to post his first 20-homer season in 2024. Bader will get some rest despite homering in each of the last two games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Mets
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