The New York Yankees’ 2022 trade deadline will live in infamy. The ill-advised Frankie Montas/Lou Trivino deal set the organization back years, and the blindsiding of Jordan Montgomery was among the most dishonest moves anybody’s ever seen.
The return for Monty was Harrison Bader, who arrived in a walking boot but ended up being the team’s ALDS hero when he belted three homers (and then two more in the ALCS sweep vs the Astros). That ended up get Yankees fans excited. They wanted a contract extension for the former Cardinal, but the front office thankfully didn’t act too hastily.
The end result? Bader was a bust. In 84 games the following season, he hit .240 with a .643 OPS and 75 OPS+. He was placed on waivers at the end of August. The Yankees clearly wanted nothing to do with him. The next offseason, Bader signed with the Mets and said that he always envisioned himself in Queens despite … saying the exact same thing when he arrived in the Bronx as he touted his Yankees fandom.
Across 2023-2024, Bader registered 1.5 WAR. In 2025 with the Minnesota Twins? 1.9 WAR alongside a .254/.331/.436 line and 109 OPS+. He’s hit 11 home runs and swiped eight bags in 84 games, which has made him a coveted trade candidate at this year’s deadline as the 47-49 Twins don’t look like they’ll be making a playoff push.
I know some will push back against it, but Harrison Bader is probably the best bang-for-your-buck position player trade acquisition the #STLCards could acquire at this year’s deadline. pic.twitter.com/QQPwbuZ0uL
https://twitter.com/BKSportsTalk/status/1943090291143249965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Another plot twist? Joel Sherman of the New York Post claims the Yankees could be interested. Can we get a “no thank you”?! Where would Bader even fit?! This team does not need outfielders!
Why would Yankees look at Harrison Bader trade deadline reunion?
Bader’s on a one-year deal, so he’ll purely be a rental at the deadline, but there’s absolutely no need for the Yankees to make this type of move (even if they did trade Trent Grisham, which they have no reason to do at this point).
Nonetheless, the fact Bader’s emerged as a valuable asset in what has been his best season since 2021 is something Yankees fans never would’ve expected. Bader didn’t sign a contract until about a week before spring training and was among a group of veterans in danger of heading into 2025 without a job. Bader’s swift fall from grace coincided with the Yankees’ worst season in 30 years when they finished 82-80 in 2023.
Not only that, but his Baseball Savant page has been objectively awful since 2021. This year, there are plenty of red flags, too, as he’s only above average in barrel percentage and bat speed. Everything else is woefully below average, giving the Yankees even more of a reason to steer clear – if they had even thought about doing this.
