In 2025, Bader combined his usually excellent defense with a career-best offensive performance. In 501 plate appearances in 146 games between the Twins and Phillies, he hit .277/.347/.449 with a 122 wRC+, while setting a career-high with 17 home runs and increasing his hard-hit percentage to 40.3%. However, there are questions about whether Bader’s performance is sustainable, as he hit .359 on balls during the game, which was well above the league average of .291.
Offensive question marks aside, Bader believes he can earn a multi-year contract via free agency this turn. We at MLBTR project him for a two-year, $26 million deal. Which team will take the plunge? Here are some of the options:
Phillies
A reunion with the Phillies would make sense. Kyle Schwarber, JT RealmutoAnd Ranger Suarez are all free agents, and while the club would like to bring Schwarber back, there may be some salary available if the other two eventually leave. Overall, the Phillies’ field defense has not been strong in recent years. By 2025, Brandon Marsh And Max Kepler were about average in the field, while Nick Castellanos was worth -11 DRS in right field and may not be on the team in 2026. Johan Rojas was worth 4 DRS in 418 2/3 outfield innings, but also hit just 58 wRC+ in 172 at-bats. Justin Crawford According to MLB.com and could play a role, although reuniting with Bader would strengthen the defense and give Crawford time to adjust to the majors.
Angels
The angels used Mike Trout this year mainly as a DH to keep him healthy. That stayed I Adel as a starting center fielder, and he was worth -13 DRS in 724 innings. Bryce Theodosio was much better with 7 DRS in 406 innings, but like Rojas for the Phillies, Teodosio was an offensive black hole with a 51 wRC+ in 150 PA. Overall, the Angels’ outfield defense was rated at -27 DRS, which ranked second among big league clubs, ahead of only the Rockies. Signing Bader would help a lot in that area, and it’s not like the $26 million figure would break the bank for owner Arte Moreno anyway.
Giants
The giants did that Junghoo Lee signed through 2029 (although he has an opt-out after 2027). Although he was slightly above average offensively this year with a 107 wRC+ in 150 games, he was last among the qualified midfielders with -18 DRS. According to Statcast, he has an 11th percentile reach but 91st percentile arm strength, so it’s possible he’ll be a better fit in right field than center. Overall, the Giants’ outfield defense wasn’t much better than the Angels’, as they combined for -21 DRS on the season. Mike Yastrzemski had been their best defensive outfielder, but he was traded to the Royals at the deadline. Because San Francisco already has expensive contracts in store Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, Matt Chapmanand Lee himself, signing Bader could be a cheap option for a strong defense and a good enough offense.
Orioles
Carlo Mullins was well below average defensively in 2025 and was traded to the Mets at the deadline. Colton Cowser And Dylan Carlson were useful in the center after that trade, but they were hardly difference makers. Expectation Dylan Bevers debuted in 2025, but only played the corners, and their next closest outfield prospect, Enrique Bradfield Jr., is considered an exceptional defender, but an underdeveloped bat. Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias has indicated the club will be aggressive in pursuing upgrades, and Grid source gives them $68 million in payroll room before they match their 2025 spending. Bader would dramatically improve the defense while still leaving room for pitching upgrades.
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