Phillies Acquire Harrison Bader from Twins

The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired Harrison Bader from the Minnesota Twins. Jeff Passan of ESPN first reported the news.

Dave Dombrowski will part with prospect outfielder Hendry Mendez and 16-year-old Venezuelan pitcher Geremy Villoria in the return package. MLB.com ranked Mendez as the organization's 12th best prospect before the trade.

Bader has a .243 batting average over nine career seasons with the Twins, New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals. He's slashed .258/.339/ with 12 home runs and 38 RBI in 2025.

He ranks in the 27th percentile of MLB hitters chasing 31.5% of pitches outside the unofficial ABS zone. He also strikes out at a high rate, and he’ll join a lineup that’s already struggled with free swingers.

The 31-year-old has also played in 31 career postseason games, including a torrid nine-game stretch with five home for the New York Yankees in the 2022 playoffs.

Bader doesn't carry a long-term commitment with only a mutual club/player option after the 2025 season.

The Phillies have slipped offensively in 2025. Nick Castellanos has brought a solid bat in right field, but a revolving cast in center field and left field in recent seasons has limited their flexibility for improvement.

Dombrowski has acquired Whit Merrifield, Austin Hays, and Max Kepler the past two seasons attempting to patch the obvious hole.

Harrison Bader will likely push Brandon Marsh to left field, where he’s excelled defensively. It will also allow Otto Kemp to settle into a manageable role behind Marsh off the bench mostly against left-handed pitching.

The Phillies return to action on Friday, August 1 to begin a three-game set against the Detroit Tigers.