Harrison Bader DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Athletic's Dan Hayes writes that Minnesota Twins outfielder Harrison Bader, who is primarily a center fielder and won a Gold Glove at the position in 2021, will see a significant amount of playing time in left field in 2025 in his first year in Minnesota. Bader's last 651 defensive appearances have come in center field dating back to 2018. However, Byron Buxton is entrenched in center field. The 30-year-old veteran has only logged 58 2/3 innings in the majors in left field, but he has experience in the corners from his days in college. Bader's best asset is his glove, so fantasy-wise, RotoBaller doesn't have him ranked as a top-100 outfielder going into 2025. He had a .496 OPS in his final 157 plate appearances last year with the Mets and started just twice in 12 playoff games last fall. Bader can be useful in deeper fantasy leagues with his modest power/speed profile.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman reports that free-agent outfielder Harrison Bader has signed with the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday on an undisclosed one-year deal that includes a mutual option for the 2026 season. Bader will essentially head to spring training this year as Minnesota's fourth outfielder but also as a much-needed insurance policy for oft-injured center fielder Byron Buxton. The 30-year-old Bader spent all of 2024 with the New York Mets, slashing .236/.284/.373 with a below-average .657 OPS, 12 home runs, 51 RBI, 17 stolen bases and 57 runs scored in 437 plate appearances over 143 regular-season games. Don't expect him to see as much playing time in Minnesota if Buxton stays healthy, but he'll be a nice option against left-handed pitchers with a career .776 OPS versus southpaws. He has an elite glove and will be a modest power/speed contributor in deeper fantasy formats.

New York Mets outfielder Harrison Bader will cover center field and bat in the nine-hole on Sunday afternoon in Game 2 of the NLDS. Bader is getting the nod over Tyrone Taylor who covered center field in Game 1. Taylor went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts on Saturday. Bader entered the game late as a pinch-runner and was able to score twice, stole a base, and tallied a hit which is why he has earned a starting opportunity. He will face Philadelphia southpaw Cristopher Sanchez, who posted a strong 2.43 ERA and 1.08 WHIP through his final five starts of the regular season. Bader remains a high-risk option in DFS, given his spot in the lineup and rather difficult matchup.

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez, third baseman Mark Vientos and outfielder Harrison Bader are all retreating to the bench for Thursday's series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Luis Torrens is doing the catching and batting ninth, Jose Iglesias is at the hot corner and hitting seventh, and Brandon Nimmo is in center field and batting third against D-backs right-hander Ryne Nelson. Nimmo is obviously the most attractive DFS play of the trio in the three-hole and he has two hits in four career at-bats against Nelson. Alvarez has hits in both of his last two games, but he could use a break after going just 2-for-24 with 10 strikeouts in his last eight games since Aug. 20. Vientos has taken advantage of Brett Baty's continued disappointment to post his first 20-homer season in 2024. Bader will get some rest despite homering in each of the last two games.

New York Mets outfielder Harrison Bader (ankle) is back in center field and is hitting in the nine-hole for the Mets in Monday's series opener against the visiting Minnesota Twins and rookie right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson. Bader suffered a sprained ankle last Tuesday in the win over the New York Yankees and missed each of the team's last five games as a result. He's back in there now for fantasy managers, though, but he won't have very much DFS upside at the bottom of the lineup in a tough matchup. The 30-year-old right-handed-hitting outfielder is mostly useful in fantasy for his speed (14 stolen bases). He enters Monday's contest sporting a .263/.301/.402 slash line with eight homers, 36 RBI and 40 runs scored in 281 at-bats. Bader has just two hits in 22 at-bats with seven strikeouts in seven games since July 13.