For all intents and purposes, the Philadelphia Phillies appear finished reshaping their roster for the 2026 season, aside from minor depth moves.
Sep 16, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Harrison Bader (2) gets ready in the dugout against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Still, some fans were holding onto one last hope that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski might surprise them — specifically by bringing back outfielder Harrison Bader.
That hope is officially gone.
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According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Bader has agreed to a two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants, pending a physical. Jon Heyman of the New York Post later reported the deal is worth $20.5 million, with incentives that could push the total value to $21 million.
While the contract has not yet been formally announced by the Giants, it effectively ends any chance of a reunion between Bader and the Phillies.
Bader’s Brief but Impactful Phillies Stint
Philadelphia acquired Bader from the Minnesota Twins at the 2025 trade deadline, and he quickly became a fan favorite. His high-energy style, strong defense, and timely offense made an immediate impression in center field.
In 50 regular-season games with the Phillies, Bader slashed an impressive .305/.361/.463 with five home runs and 16 RBIs. Unfortunately, a playoff injury limited his availability in the NLDS, where he appeared in only one of the four games.
After the season, Bader declined his $10 million player option and entered free agency. Coming off one of the best stretches of his career, he was reportedly seeking a three-year deal. Philadelphia still owes him a $3 million buyout for 2026.
Ultimately, Bader settled for fewer years than expected — not entirely surprising given that his overall offensive profile remains inconsistent.
While he hit .277 with a .796 OPS across 146 games in 2025, that production was heavily driven by a red-hot second half. For his career, Bader owns a .247 batting average and a .714 OPS.
Defense Still Drives His Value
What has never been in question is Bader’s defense. In 2025, he ranked 18th among qualified outfielders with +7 Outs Above Average and seventh with +13 Defensive Runs Saved. That elite glove work remains his calling card and a major reason San Francisco committed to him.
What This Means for the Phillies
With Bader officially off the board, the Phillies’ outfield picture becomes clearer.
Top prospect Justin Crawford is expected to compete for — and potentially win — the starting center field job in spring training.
Free-agent addition Adolis García is slated to handle right field, bringing both power and strong defense. Left field remains less certain, likely shaping up as a platoon involving Brandon Marsh and possibly Otto Kemp.
Phillies fans won’t have to wait long to see Bader again. The Giants are scheduled to visit Citizens Bank Park for a three-game series from April 28–30, offering a brief reunion — just not the one some fans were hoping for.
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