The New York Yankees have placed a struggling outfielder on waivers. Hours after releasing Josh Donaldson, the team placed Harrison Bader on waivers. Teams can claim him in reverse order of record starting on Thursday. It means Bader can join a contending team for this fall. He’s in the final year of his contract and will be a free agent this winter.
Other players currently on waivers, per sources: Yankees OF Harrison Bader, Mets RHP Carlos Carrasco, White Sox RHP Mike Clevinger, Tigers RP José Cisnero. Claims awarded in reverse order of winning percentage as of Thursday. Teams on fringes of wild-card race likely to be most… https://t.co/1kKgeo48NZ
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 29, 2023
Harrison Bader’s Profile
Now a seven-year veteran, New York acquired him at last summer’s deadline in a one-for-one swap that sent Jordan Montgomery to St. Louis. He earned a reputation as a flashy center fielder with great base speed, albeit an inconsistent bat. Bader finished with an OPS of .632 and 73 wRC+ in 96 games in pinstripes. However, he landed on the injured list twice this season. He struggled mightily since his return on June 20, slumping to a .230./.272/.304 batting line in 55 games. Overall, his season slash line is .242/.279/.370, with seven homers through 302 plate appearances.
What it Means for the Yankees and Bader
The Yankees are moving on from Bader in the twilight of a wasted season. Poor roster construction and numerous injuries to their big names have made the season an uphill battle from the jump. With Bader out the door, outfield space is cleared for recent call-up top prospect Everson Pereira. The 22-year-old will get a big-league run on the Yankees schedule for the remaining 30 games next to Aaron Judge.
While Bader has put up lackluster numbers at the dish during his Yankees tenure, he still has a valuable skillset for a contending team. With roster sizes expanding on Friday, the 2021 Gold Glove winner is an excellent fit for contenders looking to add speed and defense to their bench for the playoffs. Bader’s fantastic 2022 postseason performance also shows he can elevate his play in important games. He hit .333 with five home runs over nine playoff games.
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