Harrison Bader was beloved in his short stint with the Phillies. A reunion is no longer on the table.
The veteran outfielder agreed to a two-year contract, worth $20.5 million with the San Francisco Giants, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported the details.
Bader, 31, arrived in Philadelphia at the trade deadline and provided an immediate lift. Over 50 games, he hit .305 with a .824 OPS.
The interest was mutual, but the timing no longer aligned.
Since the offseason began, the Phillies have shifted their outlook in center field, committing to Justin Crawford as their primary option entering 2026. With Crawford expected to take on an everyday role, Philadelphia was unlikely to match an offer shaped by Bader’s leverage in a thin center field market.
That market ultimately worked in Bader’s favor. After his $10 million mutual option was declined, he was in a position to secure a multi-year deal elsewhere. However, the Phillies were not inclined to do so due to their internal plan and current payroll structure.
Philadelphia will be on the books to pay his $3 million buyout for the upcoming season.
Defensively, Bader was strong this past season. He finished with seven Outs Above Average and continued to rate among the league’s faster defenders at the position.
Offensively, the results outpaced the underlying indicators. His expected batting average (.229) and expected slugging percentage (.383) pointed toward potential regression, factors the Phillies weighed as they evaluated a longer-term fit.
Durability has also been a consideration throughout his career. In nine big league seasons, Bader has appeared in at least 120 games just four times.
With Bader departing, the Phillies’ outfield picture is clearer rather than more uncertain. Crawford is expected to open the season in center, with Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas also factoring into the mix.