The New York Mets have had a rough offseason so far, and fans in Queens are starting to voice their frustration. It began poorly with the trade of Brandon Nimmo and continued as Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz departed in free agency. The Mets have yet to add a power bat to the lineup to support Juan Soto, which could mean he won’t see as many pitches to drive.
“You’ve now paid, unless you get a bat, Juan Soto to walk 150 times a year,” MLB Network’s Ron Darling said on air.
One potential replacement for Nimmo is former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Harrison Bader. He is coming off his best season as a hitter while continuing to provide strong defense.
“From 2022 to ‘24, Bader put up a.284 on-base percentage—ninth-worst among 230 qualified hitters—with an 80 wRC+. He picked a great year to break out of that rut, posting career highs across the board over 146 games while playing his usual strong defense. That should set him up nicely for a multi-year deal, particularly in a year with a relatively thin crop of starting-caliber center fielders. Bader’s uptick in offensive production seems tied to him adding bat speed, which upped his barrel rate but also his strikeout in whiff rates. It was clearly a worthwhile tradeoff, and inquiring teams will need to decide whether or not its effect can be a lasting one,” SI’s Will Laws wrote.
The Mets need a reliable presence in the outfield after letting go of a fan favorite, and Bader could provide exactly that coming off a career-best season. The team will need to find a way to make it up to their fans after a disappointing offseason.
Bader would be a solid pickup in free agency and should not be prohibitively expensive. He could serve as a strong short-term solution while the Mets figure out their long-term plan for the position.
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