BREAKING: Twins Agree to One-Year Deal With Outfielder Harrison Bader

[Mike Sixel]

6 minutes ago, amjgt said:

Those three had zero value at the trade deadline.

They moved Nelson Cruz at the deadline because he had value.

They could have cut them and gone with rookies. But they didn't. They kept playing bad players until they were hurt. 

[chpettit19]

8 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

So you should hope they never, ever sign a free agent. Can't imagine how devastated you must have been yesterday at an equally fair market signing to add a valuable player to the roster. 

No, that isn't at all what I said. I don't want them signing these at-best average free agents that they won't move on from when they end up being significantly worse than average. I want them to bring in talent. And when that talent isn't as good as what they expected I want them to move on from it and try somebody who may actually be good. 

None of that at all means I "should hope they never, ever sign a free agent." That's a weak, strawman argument not based on anything I said. I don't want a collection of $2-8 million vets that they won't replace when their prospects could/should be able to perform to the same level while saving them millions to spend on better vets.

[USAFChief]

3 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

But in what way is he competent? Certainly not with the bat?

He's utterly competent as an outfielder. Certainly not with the bat.

As opposed to Martin, who is utterly INcompetent as an outfielder.  And also not with the bat.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

1 hour ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

He can't be any worse than Margot....right?

Your grammar is incorrect. "He can't be any bader than  Margot".

 

1 hour ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

He can't be any worse than Margot....right?

I like this signing for the Twins. 

[Mike Sixel]

38 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

This signing should push Willi Castro into the infield more often and I think that's a good thing. He could be playing a lot of 2B.

If the Twins go with Bader/Buxton/Wallner for defense, then nobody is trying to take an extra base.

Keirsey is the big loser here. He's back in AAA and may not get an opportunity with Emmanuel Rodriguez about to pass him on the depth chart.

Emma isn't coming up this year w/o major injuries. No chance now. 

[KirbyDome89]

This team platoons to an extreme degree, people seem to be forgetting that. Bader isn't a late innings defensive replacement who'll spot start here and there. He's going to play, and if Buxton has a typical season, he's going to play a lot. The leash will be long; they let Margot set a record for futility last year ffs...

[chpettit19]

9 minutes ago, amjgt said:

Those three had zero value at the trade deadline.

They moved Nelson Cruz at the deadline because he had value.

Trading isn't the only way to get a guy off your roster. The point is that they will roster him all year no matter what. 

And they moved Nelson because he had value AND because it was a lost season. You need both of those conditions to be met. If the Twins are competing in the central they aren't trading Bader at the deadline.

[Brock Beauchamp]

7 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

But in what way is he competent? Certainly not with the bat?

Because that leads to the next question:  Is he really going to be a backup? History says he's going to get more PA than Buxton. Just give the PAs to the young guys. Maybe you'll get lucky. There is no pot of gold to be had with Bader though. Playing to the floor instead of the ceiling is what kills this team every single season. 

A team cannot go into a season with one centerfielder on the roster, especially if that one centerfielder snaps like a twig if someone looks at him wrong.

The Twins have zero CF behind Buxton. Zero. And that's a real problem. I'll worry about Bader blocking someone when there is someone to block.

[NYCTK]

2 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Nobody is acting like 6.25 mil is sending the Pohlads anywhere. Yes, I am "worried about" where they spend their money. They're now, in my opinion, spending $23.75 on 3 players that don't move the needle on winning as many baseball games as possible in 2025. This isn't a new stance for me, or others, on this. I'd much rather have 1 guy for $24 mil than 3 guys. It's not just the 6.25 allocated to Bader, it's the $23.75 allocated to Paddack, Vazquez, and Bader instead of someone like Bregman or Alonso who are actual needle movers.

It's floor vs ceiling. Those 3 help maintain the floor while providing 0 help on the ceiling. I don't care about the floor anymore, I want ceiling. If they have had mid-140s worth of payroll available to them from the very beginning of the offseason I think this has been a complete failure of an offseason. Give me Ha-Seong Kim instead of Bader and Paddack. They had far more avenues of team improvement open to them if this is where they knew the payroll could be all offseason. Falvey improved the team compared to what it was yesterday, maybe. But he didn't improve it over what it could have been overall with the money they apparently have available to spend.

Well, Pete Alonso isn't walking into the Twin's Clubhouse so this is about as effectively as the Twins can spend their money on February 5th. You'll worried about the past instead of celebrating the team improving today. It's sad to see to be quite honest. 

I think it's a failure of an offseason too. As was last years. I think Falvey, quite honestly, is no good at his job. But that doesn't change the fact that this is a good move. You don't get mad at a player hitting a homerun just because they've been in a slump. 

[sweetmusicviola16]

1 year at 6.25 mil with 200k of bonus available for Bader. I would be very surprised if Castro isn't dealt now. The numbers line up very closely.

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, Brock Beauchamp said:

A team cannot go into a season with one centerfielder on the roster, especially if that one centerfielder snaps like a twig if someone looks at him wrong.

The Twins have zero CF behind Buxton. Zero. And that's a real problem. I'll worry about Bader blocking someone when there is someone to block.

As if he won't get more ABs that Larnach at this point.......we all know that. Or Wallner. 

He's going to get over 400 ABs, not back up Buxton. 

They also have Emma in the minors.....who now won't see the light of day w/o a huge injury this year. 

[nicksaviking]

2 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

He's utterly competent as an outfielder. Certainly not with the bat.

As opposed to Martin, who is utterly INcompetent as an outfielder.  And also not with the bat.

And Martin can be optioned and will be benched if he doesn't hit. Heck, I wouldn't put it past them to DFA him. He's not the only option. Maybe none are attractive, but when the bird in the hand is proven unable to hit, I'll take the two or three or four in the bush.

[amjgt]

4 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

They could have cut them and gone with rookies. But they didn't. They kept playing bad players until they were hurt. 

I think you're misremembering the end of the Joey Gallo era.

Farmer played very little until the end of the season and was actually pretty good then

Margot... wasn't good and kept playing. So that applies

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, amjgt said:

I think you're misremembering the end of the Joey Gallo era.

Farmer played very little until the end of the season and was actually pretty good then

Margot... wasn't good and kept playing. So that applies

Gallo was hurt. If he hadn't been hurt , Wallner would still be in AAA....

[NYCTK]

5 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

No, that isn't at all what I said. I don't want them signing these at-best average free agents that they won't move on from when they end up being significantly worse than average. I want them to bring in talent. And when that talent isn't as good as what they expected I want them to move on from it and try somebody who may actually be good. 

None of that at all means I "should hope they never, ever sign a free agent." That's a weak, strawman argument not based on anything I said. I don't want a collection of $2-8 million vets that they won't replace when their prospects could/should be able to perform to the same level while saving them millions to spend on better vets.

None of what you said reflects on Harrison Bader or even the signing of him. Your issues are entirely with the in-season front office management. So, let's start the campaign to fire Falvey then.

 

[chpettit19]

7 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Were Gallo, Margot, and Farmer tradeable?  I just can't imagine there was any demand for those players but of course that's just my perception.  

Trading isn't the only option for removing a player from your roster. The point is they don't drop underperforming vets in any way, not just trade. Do you think they'll trade Bader at the deadline if they're in the mix for winning the Central? Do we have any historical evidence that they'd do that with a veteran position player, especially one making more than a couple mil?

[Brock Beauchamp]

2 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

They also have Emma in the minors.....who now won't see the light of day w/o a huge injury this year. 

Look at the bolded. Read it a few times. Then let's all laugh together at the idea of the Twins NOT having half the roster injured by June 1st.

[karcherd]

16 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Well, that's less the fault of Bader and more the fault of the player made of glass. 

He will be our playing LF when not filling in for Buxton, there is no way based on history they will use him as a 4th OF.

[NYCTK]

5 minutes ago, KirbyDome89 said:

This team platoons to an extreme degree, people seem to be forgetting that. Bader isn't a late innings defensive replacement who'll spot start here and there. He's going to play, and if Buxton has a typical season, he's going to play a lot. The leash will be long; they let Margot set a record for futility last year ffs...

Considering Larnach's OPS against LHP is 570 and Wallner's is 510 both with mediocre to bad defense, maybe insurance is good. One or both of them could obviously improve on those numbers, but to bet on BOTH of them succeeding against LHP in 2025 is a good recipe for disaster. 

 

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

I like that he brings defense, but he can't hit. He's the move we all knew was coming, right-handed hitting outfielder to platoon with Larnach and Wallner. But his splits last year were actually reverse, and he wasn't good against either hand. He put up insane numbers against lefties in 2023, but 2022 was reverse as well and bad against both. 2021 was the last year he actually hit well, but his splits were reverse that year, too. 2019, also reverse splits. 2017 and 2018 he was much better against lefties than righties. 

Overall, he hasn't showed he can really hit either hand consistently. 4 of his 7 non-2020 seasons were reverse splits. So, he's a questionable platoon option to start with. He's all glove. And the Twins certainly need more glove. But I'm not excited about this move.

I agree - nothing to get jazzed about here!

Earlier today I posted at TD that Bader had .650 - .620 - .656 OPS the past 3 seasons…..not a great FA target! Then we all got the news.

I guess the fair evaluation is, will he be better or comparable defensively & offensively to Larnach - Martin - Wallner v. LH pitching? He can play CF and those 3 cannot, really.

The best point I ran across in the early comments here was, & I’m paraphrasing, “…….if he fills a depth need & allows the Team to keep (afford) Vazquez & Castro, it’s a good move.” …….I can’t argue with that but it is a lower bar than I hoped for from the organization. A TRADE for a 1B, which is still a viable thought, would reverse the sting of Bader signing & inactivity.

[IndianaTwin]

Apologies if this is a repeat from someone else's comments -- I scanned pretty quickly. 

• Michael A Taylor (career 80 OPS+) was coming off a 90 OPS+ season as a 31-year-old when he came with an excellent defensive reputation. 
• Harrison Bader (career 91 OPS+) is coming off an 86 OPS+ as a 30-year-old as he comes with an excellent defensive reputation. 

If there's reason to believe that Bader will do what Taylor did, it's a great fit for the roster.

 

[nicksaviking]

9 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

A team cannot go into a season with one centerfielder on the roster, especially if that one centerfielder snaps like a twig if someone looks at him wrong.

The Twins have zero CF behind Buxton. Zero. And that's a real problem. I'll worry about Bader blocking someone when there is someone to block.

I'll take Castro over Bader.

And I'll take any sliver of potential with Martin, Kiersey or Helman. They can all be sent packing when they don't perform. Those guys never get much leash. Call up the REAL prospects next. If none of them pan out, you only missed out on an unproductive veteran player anyway.

I seriously don't care about subpar defense from the 2nd option in CF. I care that this team for years signs these kinds of players and then acts stunned when they are the worst team in the league at driving in runs with guys in scoring position. That is 10x more frustrating than not catching an extra line drive once a week.

[ashbury]

11 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Your grammar is incorrect. "He can't be any bader than  Margot".

Get ready also for the Darth Bader jokes, unless I missed one in somebody's post already.

[Brock Beauchamp]

1 minute ago, nicksaviking said:

I'll take Castro over Bader.

And I'll take the any sliver of potential with Martin, Kiersey or Helman. They can all be sent packing when they don't perform. Those guys never get much leash. Call up the REAL prospects next. If none of them pan out, you only missed out on an unproductive veteran player anyway.

I seriously don't care about subpar defense from the 2nd option in CF. I care that this team for years signs these kinds of players and then acts stunned when they are the worst team in the league at driving in runs with guys in scoring position.

Michael A Taylor basically saved this team's ass in 2023 so I don't agree with this opinion.

[NYCTK]

3 minutes ago, karcherd said:

He will be our playing LF when not filling in for Buxton, there is no way based on history they will use him as a 4th OF.

If Larnach sucks, sure. And when Wallner goes through another stretch like he did last year with a 37% K rate and a 180 average, yeah, maybe Bader gets playing time then too. 

Having a competent 4th OF is good. How are fans trying to spin this as a bad thing? 

Austin Martin just lost playing time. This is a time for celebration! 

[Mike Sixel]

5 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Look at the bolded. Read it a few times. Then let's all laugh together at the idea of the Twins NOT having half the roster injured by June 1st.

Going to have to be a long term injury to an OF. Not a short term one. Because they aren't calling him up for 10 days. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

Just now, Mike Sixel said:

Going to have to be a long term injury to an OF. Not a short term one. Because they aren't calling him up for 10 days. 

Again, is that ever a concern on this team?

[chpettit19]

21 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Well, Pete Alonso isn't walking into the Twin's Clubhouse so this is about as effectively as the Twins can spend their money on February 5th. You'll worried about the past instead of celebrating the team improving today. It's sad to see to be quite honest. 

I think it's a failure of an offseason too. As was last years. I think Falvey, quite honestly, is no good at his job. But that doesn't change the fact that this is a good move. You don't get mad at a player hitting a homerun just because they've been in a slump. 

Why isn't he? Because they don't have the money to pay him. My argument was that they could've cleared more money before February 5th, and still could've cleared it today. Alonso isn't walking in for 6.25 mil, but he might for 24. And if not him then you could've gotten Kim and Diaz for the Paddack and Vazquez money and still signed Bader.

It's "sad" because you're arguing against what you want me to be saying and not what I am saying. If they knew they had 145+ mil in payroll from the start it changes things from if they only had 135. It's only "the past" because they've now allocated this money. There's no rule saying they couldn't have cleared this money today and offered it to Alonso or Bregman.

I think celebrating 1 non-needle-moving signing on Feb 5th after having bashed this team all offseason as a doomed team with no chance is "sad." You've been calling them a below .500 team all offseason but now you're excited because they signed Bader? Get out of here with that. This doesn't take them from below .500 to a division champ. I'm glad you like Bader. He'll help the defense for sure. But don't act like this is some needle moving signing. Nobody should argue that.

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, NYCTK said:

If Larnach sucks, sure. And when Wallner goes through another stretch like he did last year with a 37% K rate and a 180 average, yeah, maybe Bader gets playing time then too. 

Having a competent 4th OF is good. How are fans trying to spin this as a bad thing? 

Austin Martin just lost playing time. This is a time for celebration! 

Because it is how they spent their limited money.......it would be just great if they spent more on 2B or C or RP too, but they didn't. My distaste is this about keeping the floor decent, and doesn't move the needle UP in any meaningful way. 

[chpettit19]

8 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

None of what you said reflects on Harrison Bader or even the signing of him. Your issues are entirely with the in-season front office management. So, let's start the campaign to fire Falvey then.

 

Signing Bader doesn't have any reflection on things in-season? What are you even talking about? They're tied together. Signing him means he's going to play in-season, right? And him playing in-season effects the rest of the roster, right? What a nonsense argument. The season is what I care about, yes. I don't know what else any of us are here discussing if it isn't how the Twins do in-season.