Mets Ink Ex-Yankee Bader to $10 million Pact
New York Mets have complained and complained and complained all off-season about the lack of major moves by their Amazins.
Well, they’ll probably still complain (what’s a Met fan to do? Be happy? ) But, the Mets made a move Thursday, signing former Yankees outfielder Harrison Bader to a one-year, $10 million contract.
Bader is a solid pick-up for a Mets team looking to solidify their defensive outfield while adding a little bit of pop, and injecting some personality into the clubhouse.
In 98 games with the Yankees, spanning the 2022 and ’23 seasons, Bader hit .237 with seven homers and 46 RBI. His main issue in the Bronx was staying healthy, he had a couple of stints on the injury list and played five games with Double-A Somerset last summer.
The Yankees traded Bader last August to the Cincinnati Reds.
While he struggled to maintain his health in 2023, Bader’s upside is his defense. He owns a lifetime .986 fielding percentage in the outfield; can play all three outfield positions, and is baseball’s Outfield Above Average (OAA) leader since 2018. Check out the stats below!
If anything, Bader will give the Mets needed depth off the bench, and some insurance should Starling Marte, who is rehabbing in Winter Ball, have any more health issues in the right field. Right now New York is still looking to solidify its left field spot. Right now, one would imagine Bader would have to be slotted in there for the time being.
YANKEES INTEREST IN BLAKE SNELL?
Meanwhile, over in the Bronx, there is a rumor that free agent starting pitcher Blake Snell could have an interest in joining the Yankees.
https://x.com/MLBONFOX/status/1742981274841792615?s=20
The Yankees need another starting pitcher after striking out on Yoshinubo Yamamoto a few weeks ago. The Yankees are currently betting on a return to form for Nestor Cortes and Carlos Rendon behind staff ace Gerrit Cole.
Signing Snell would make sense. He’s left-handed, which helps in the left-handed hitter haven of Yankee Stadium and is familiar with the AL East having pitched several years for the Tampa Bay Rays.
