Is Harrison Bader Precisely the Wrong Player for the Twins Right Now?

[Adam Friedman]

He checks all the boxes, but was the front office reading the right checklist?

Image courtesy of © Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

On Wednesday, the Twins reportedly addressed their most glaring need by signing Harrison Bader to a one-year contract for a bit over $6 million. He provides terrific outfield defense and a platoon bat to face left-handed pitchers. With Austin Martin and Michael Helman as the only internal options for that role, this move makes sense. That's the simplest test of any move, and this one passes with flying colors. Apply a more stringent standard, though, and cracks appear.

What Bader Provides
As Twins Daily has covered, Bader's principal skill is his defense in center field. Should Byron Buxton need a day off or get hurt and be out for a month, Bader provides excellent backup. When he plays in an outfield corner, his glove should be downright elite. 

The veteran may also provide some skill on the basepaths. However, his baserunning metrics were average (or worse) for the first time in his career in 2024, likely heavily impacted by his poor 68% success rate on stolen bases, in 25 attempts. Bader has been comfortably above-average against lefties, looking at his career as a whole. However, he was poor overall at the plate last year, with an 85 wRC+ (100 is average)—and he was worse against southpaws than righties, posting a 70 wRC+ against them. 

What the Twins Need
Minnesota certainly needs a capable center fielder to play behind Byron Buxton, after last year's group at that position (outside of Buxton) was terrible defensively. Despite his defense, though, Bader’s flaws at the plate are a big issue. 

This team’s lineup is riddled with hitters who are hard to rely on, due to inconsistent performance, poor health records, or both. Matt Wallner is the only hitter on the team who has hit throughout his career and hasn't dealt with significant injury issues in the last year. Even then, many fans question his sustainability due to a few massive slumps and his high-strikeout profile. 

For a team shouldering so much risk on the offensive side of the ball, somebody who has consistently hit lefties just made sense for this role. It is true, however, that each run Bader will save in center is as good as one created at the plate.

Alternatives to Bader
There were other free agents with more offense-focused skill sets from the right side of the plate whom the Twins could have targeted. Austin Hays, Ramón Laureano, and Randal Grichuk signed for less than Bader and are true lefty mashers. But the Twins opted to go with the defensive profile, despite almost no offensive upside.

If the Twins can get strong offensive performances from their core pieces, Bader will fill in nicely and be a great role player. However, if health is an issue and the Twins don't get bounce-backs from their young players who struggled down the stretch, Bader could be a frustrating piece amid a sputtering offense.

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Do you think the Twins were right to sign Bader over the more offensive-focused players?

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[dxpavelka]

Nicely done.  You nailed the issue without even knowing.  Basically you said that Bader isn't a good fit because he does nothing to change the fact that:  "This team’s lineup is riddled with hitters who are hard to rely on."  The fact that Bader doesn't fix that is not the issue.  In the old days of journalism that would have been called burying the lead.  You also mentioned that: (if the) "Twins don't get bounce-backs from their young players who struggled down the stretch, Bader could be a frustrating piece amid a sputtering offense."  Again, in that case, the issue is not Bader.  The issue is the lack of bounce-backs from  their young players who struggled down the stretch.  Burying the lead again.  This reads like Derek Falvey wrote it.

[Whitey333]

Nice article.  We'll done.  I agree with your analysis!  I think the success of tge season, or lack thereof, will depend a lot on the young players that proved last year that they either aren't ready to contribute or simply not good enough to contribute.  Signing Bader may prove to be another waste of resources.

[In My La Z boy]

This will make more sense when we trade somebody I hope.

[miracleb]

In other words:  "He is just fine....if we don't have to use him much.  If we have to use him a lot.....we are in trouble."

We have 4-5 guys in the minors who can fit this description (but with potential UPSIDE,)(oh yeah...and for FREE.)

[AlGoreRythm]

Helman was sold to the Cardinals last week for cash considerations last week.

[Otaknam]

30 minutes ago, dxpavelka said:

Nicely done.  You nailed the issue without even knowing.  Basically you said that Bader isn't a good fit because he does nothing to change the fact that:  "This team’s lineup is riddled with hitters who are hard to rely on."  The fact that Bader doesn't fix that is not the issue.  In the old days of journalism that would have been called burying the lead.  You also mentioned that: (if the) "Twins don't get bounce-backs from their young players who struggled down the stretch, Bader could be a frustrating piece amid a sputtering offense."  Again, in that case, the issue is not Bader.  The issue is the lack of bounce-backs from  their young players who struggled down the stretch.  Burying the lead again.  This reads like Derek Falvey wrote it.

Pretty harsh and sarcastic for some reason. 

[NYCTK]

Quite simply, if the offense of players like Lewis and Miranda doesn't bounce back, this team isn't being saved by Randal Grichuk. And if the offense does bounce back, that additional marginal offense of Grichuk isn't really worth all that much. 

You people that are so mad the Twins didn't sign an offensive powerhouse like Grichuk know that his career ops+ is 104, right? 

[Otaknam]

My take is that they paid a lot for a guy who should bring solid defense, while providing below average offense. Clearly defensive ability was paramount, given Buxton’s injury history. Hopefully Bader isn’t an automatic out. But that’s a lot to pay for a career .242 hitter, despite his defense. Dashawn Kiersey is still on the roster, with his speed and proclaimed elite defense, albeit with a lefty bat. Given the penurious ownership, it’s surprising they just didn’t go with Kiersey to save money. 

[Trov]

My concern is he is getting to the age that his defense will start to drop off. He very well may have 1 more decent season in as a back up option, but his last couple of years he has not been elite on defense just about average. It feels like Margot all over and fans will be calling for Kiersey Jr. to get called up or depending on how he is hitting maybe even Jenkins when Buck gets hurt. 

[Blyleven2011]

It was a good read of an analysis of Bader and of the inconsistency of our hitters  , they are frustrating to watch the batters,  swinging hard with no approach other than swinging for the fences ...

I sure hope the new hitting coaches can influence the hitters to adjust to where the ball is pitched , if it's on the outside of the plate , take it the other way , if our hitters were more disciplined they would see better pitches to hit and the occasional homerun will come  ...

We need disciplined hitters pure and simple,  we need defense too ...

Pitching is our strength ...

Was Bader the right choice , we'll have to wait and see , sure hope he doesn't get the Margot syndrome  and tank ...

[TwinsDr2021]

For a team with no money, they just Made a 4th outfielder their 5th highest paid hitter, there is no justification for that what so ever. I would have rather just used Keirsay as that player and trade for one later if needed.

[old nurse]

46 minutes ago, Otaknam said:

Pretty harsh and sarcastic for some reason. 

Yet a very accurate assessment. 

[rv78]

You left out one aspect that will also likely make him the wrong player.... and that is HOW Rocco will use him. If it's ONLY as a ''backup'' CFer to Buxton then .... not a problem. But if it's also as a Righty hitter taking at bats away consistantly from Larnach and Wallner then it's a problem. And we all know, with how Rocco loves his reverse splits, what is going to happen.

[old nurse]

The author should never write anything negative about the Twins defense if what he advocates are bat first players. 

Wallner was sent down last May because he was not hitting you can look it up. 

[killertwinfan]

I rarely say good things about our front office, but am with them on Bader.  You better play solid defense behind our offense. 

[Fire Dan Gladden]

You can't look at the Bader signing in the context of the entire Twins lineup.  Bader was signed as a projected 4th OF, primarily as a defensive CF backup.  The Twins decided that they value his defensive skills and veteran presence more than anything else.

The Twins filled a hole they could fill from FA.  They are not going to get a starting position player better than what they currently have for what they paid Bader, so you fill what you can fill.  The Twins are relying on Miranda, Lee, Martin, Julien, Lewis, et. al. to perform in the infield.  Don't blame Bader for their deficiencies. 

[Road trip]

21 minutes ago, old nurse said:

The author should never write anything negative about the Twins defense if what he advocates are bat first players. 

Wallner was sent down last May because he was not hitting you can look it up. 

To be fair, it was April 15, after the oh-so-patient Twins gave Wallner 19 at bats and gave up.  He did look lost, to be certain, but so did several veteran players for far longer periods of time.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

1 hour ago, AlGoreRythm said:

Helman was sold to the Cardinals last week for cash considerations last week.

Why was this done? What was the point of selling Helman?

[Mahoning]

In a way, you could see it as a message to the younger players: "Guys, it's on you." 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

57 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

It was a good read of an analysis of Bader and of the inconsistency of our hitters  , they are frustrating to watch the batters,  swinging hard with no approach other than swinging for the fences ...

I sure hope the new hitting coaches can influence the hitters to adjust to where the ball is pitched , if it's on the outside of the plate , take it the other way , if our hitters were more disciplined they would see better pitches to hit and the occasional homerun will come  ...

We need disciplined hitters pure and simple,  we need defense too ...

Pitching is our strength ...

Was Bader the right choice , we'll have to wait and see , sure hope he doesn't get the Margot syndrome  and tank ...

Outstanding assessment Bly. I agree 100%

[joefish]

26 minutes ago, killertwinfan said:

I rarely say good things about our front office, but am with them on Bader.  You better play solid defense behind our offense. 

Exactly why we need somebody with experience to solidify our hole at 1b. Santana's defense is going to be missed.

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, NYCTK said:

Quite simply, if the offense of players like Lewis and Miranda doesn't bounce back, this team isn't being saved by Randal Grichuk. And if the offense does bounce back, that additional marginal offense of Grichuk isn't really worth all that much. 

You people that are so mad the Twins didn't sign an offensive powerhouse like Grichuk know that his career ops+ is 104, right? 

Agreed, Grichuk isn’t a star but the Team needs offensive capabilities spread across the line-up. That’s the frustration for me with the Bader signing. Bader’s OPS+ is 91 for his career and declining. Grichuk had a decent year in ‘24.

[JD-TWINS]

15 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Why was this done? What was the point of selling Helman?

Least upside or aid in depth on the clogged 40-man.

[Doctor Gast]

IMO it's a waste of money, money that could be spent on extending our own players. For too many years, Twins stuck with Cave as Bucks replacement who was terrible & lost a lot of games with him in CF. Now the focus is on a former elite CFer & poor bat hoping somehow he can turn back time. After crying we have no money that's why we can't improve the team, Now they're spending $6.5- 8.5M & plus '26 buyout for someone who'll cover for the LHPs for Buck when he's down (which I hope is minimal) & platoon for Larnach or Wallner to maximize his use. This amounts to very little playing time & impact to justify this amount of money that was spent.  I can't help but brace myself for the negative aftereffects of trading away someone we really need to afford someone we don't need. Keirsey is a true CF a better fielder than Castro, Martin, Wallner & Larnach, with untapped upside. Bader shouldn't have anything to do with him but somehow he will. 

[NYCTK]

36 minutes ago, joefish said:

Exactly why we need somebody with experience to solidify our hole at 1b. Santana's defense is going to be missed.

People here are obsessed with his arm, but he's such a lousy OF they should consider giving Wallner reps there in Spring Training. Maybe he'd take to it.

[Nashvilletwin]

1 hour ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

The Twins are relying on Miranda, Lee, Martin, Julien, Lewis, et. al. to perform in the infield.  Don't blame Bader for their deficiencies. 

Couldn’t agree more.  It’s Rocco and his staff who bear the responsibility for turning highly ranked prospects (who have performed and developed through our own minor league system) into actual real major leaguers. You can add Wallner and Larnach to that list. At this point Rocco, et al are 0-7 in what arguably is their most important role.

[Ruven]

Giants won the WS multiple times a decade back with strong pitching*, solid defense, and an underwhelming attack w one HoF stick: Posey. Not quite George and the Seven Dwarves of the KC/Brett era, but they were not much better. Until the Twins’ young hitters all arrive — and that might never happen — these Twins are at least primed to be competitive with the same approach.  

Figure good health, some natural growth and improvement on offense with maybe a career year from one or two guys, and 90+ wins is in reach. That pretty much puts them in the postseason and that’s all that matters. 

Long way around to say offense from a platoon fourth outfielder is nice but, if Buxton is your starter, a backup centerfielder is an absolute requirement. 

* Lincecum and Bumgarner were better than any two starters the Twins can run out there, but the Twins starting depth and bullpen are true assets. There is hope. 

[Major League Ready]

22 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Agreed, Grichuk isn’t a star but the Team needs offensive capabilities spread across the line-up. That’s the frustration for me with the Bader signing. Bader’s OPS+ is 91 for his career and declining. Grichuk had a decent year in ‘24.

I thought Grichuk was a good fit and perhaps they took a shot at him.  Some players are just going to prefer to play elsewhere.  Having said this, I don't remember people complaining about the MAT signing and his career wRC+ is 79.  

I don't think we have any shot if Buxton does not stay healthy and some of the young guys don't bounce back / step up.  Therefore, if we are forced to rely on Bader we are screwed and adding Grichuk won't come close to saying us.  There is a reasonable chance E. Rodriguez is up in a couple months.  Bader becomes the 5th outfielder used to relieve Buxton and also provide a late inning defensive replacement / pinch runner.  This is the more likely path to success.  We have little chance if the core guys don't deliver.  It's highly improbable any of the mentioned options would impact this team's playoff chances if we have to rely on this roster spot in the absence of the health of Buxton / Correa, and production from our young core.

[Parfigliano]

2 hours ago, Trov said:

My concern is he is getting to the age that his defense will start to drop off. He very well may have 1 more decent season in as a back up option, but his last couple of years he has not been elite on defense just about average. It feels like Margot all over and fans will be calling for Kiersey Jr. to get called up or depending on how he is hitting maybe even Jenkins when Buck gets hurt. 

And fans will be disappointed when there is no call up.  Bader is a vet paid 6.5 million so he will play.

If he stinks?  Still plays.  If young guy tearing up AAA?  Still plays.