Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

The Philadelphia Phillies fell short in the playoffs this past year again, losing in the National League Division Series. Despite the team being favored entering the playoffs, the Los Angeles Dodgers seemed to make pretty quick work of them.

As they enter the offseason now, the Phillies front office has a lot of pressure on it to build a more well-rounded roster. But to complicate things, the team does have a few crucial players entering free agency this winter.

One of those is veteran outfielder Harrison Bader, who came over to the Phillies in a trade at the deadline last summer. Bader seemed to fit in well with the Phillies, but the team will have some competition to retain his services.

Bader has been one of the most talked-about outfield names this winter, and for good reason. His second half with the Phillies helped propel them to the postseason, clinching the National League East division title along the way.

Overall, the veteran hit .277 with 17 home runs and 54 runs batted in, splitting time between the Phillies and Minnesota Twins. But things turned up a notch for him in Philadelphia, which saw him slash .305/.361/.463, incredibly. 

There are many around baseball who see a return to the Phillies as a possibility, but with the team prioritizing other players to bring back, Bader could slip through the cracks. Bader has plenty of interest from other teams across baseball, and this could see him land a very nice contract on the open market. 

This past season, Bader also showed much more range on defense, playing both left field and center. His versatility could also increase the type of contract that he receives, with many teams now wanting players to be able to play multiple positions.

Bader is also one of the better outfielders on the open market, which could see a bidding war break out to land him. But how his free agency plays out remains to be seen at this point. 

This is just a prediction, NOT a report!

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Harrison Bader Joins Mets, Leaving Phillies

One team that could look to sign Bader away from the Phillies could be the rival New York Mets. New York needs help in the outfield for next season, and Bader could be the perfect move for them.

Bader and the Mets know each other well, as he played for them in the 2024 season. The veteran had a solid year with the Mets, hitting 236/.284/.373 with 12 home runs and 51 runs batted in over 140 games played in center field.

This could be a solid reunion for the two sides, and the Mets saw a lot of success with Bader on the team. New York wanted to sign him back last offseason, but their pursuit of star Juan Soto complicated matters.

If New York were to bring him back now, it could be the front office righting the wrongs of last winter. Overall, the Mets could be a real threat to the Phillies in the sweepstakes for Bader, especially with how desperate they are to improve the roster.