Yankees Waive OF Harrison Bader: Reports

The New York Yankees have placed center fielder Harrison Bader on waivers, making him available for other teams to claim. Bader is an impending free agent and could be a valuable addition for a playoff contender. The Yankees acquired Bader last year for pitcher Jordan Montgomery, but injuries have limited his playing time. Despite struggling at the plate recently, Bader's defense and speed could make a difference in the playoffs. The Yankees may look to give opportunities to other players, such as Everson Pereira or Jasson Domínguez, in center field.

On August 1, as members of the media gathered on the field, Harrison Bader, the center fielder for the New York Yankees, approached with a question. He jokingly asked, "Am I still on this team?" before jogging away, laughing at his own remark.

The Yankees had chosen not to trade Bader, a veteran they acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals the previous year. At the time, the team was still in contention for a wild-card spot, so they decided to hold onto him. However, now that the Yankees find themselves with a sub-.500 record and out of the playoff chase, they have placed Bader on waivers, as reported by Erik Boland of Newsday.

This news came shortly after the Yankees released third baseman Josh Donaldson, as they are currently focused on evaluating their younger players. Despite being placed on waivers, Bader was still in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Detroit Tigers.

Bader is set to become a free agent after this season. If a playoff contender claims him, they would only have to pay him less than $1 million for the remainder of the season. It's important for players to be part of an organization by August 31st in order to be eligible for the postseason.

The Yankees acquired Bader in a last-minute deal last summer, trading Jordan Montgomery to the Cardinals. Although the move came as a surprise, the Yankees wanted Bader's exceptional defense in their outfield and didn't anticipate needing Montgomery in their postseason rotation.

Since the trade, Montgomery has performed better than expected, transitioning from a middle-to-back-end starter to a more reliable pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers. He is also set to become a free agent after this season.

Bader provided the Yankees with the defensive skills they desired, but injuries have limited his playing time in New York. Additionally, his performance at the plate has been inconsistent, despite some impressive stretches, including hitting five home runs in the 2022 playoffs.

Recently, Bader has been struggling at the plate, with a batting average of .207/.270/.256 since the beginning of August. Overall this season, he has a slash line of .242/.279/.370 with seven home runs, 37 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases in 82 games.

Since joining the Yankees, Bader has hit .239/.274/.358 with seven home runs and 46 RBIs in 96 regular-season games. It's worth noting that Bader grew up rooting for the Yankees and didn't make his debut for the team until mid-September last year due to recovering from plantar fasciitis.

While Bader's offensive numbers have been underwhelming, he has performed well against left-handed pitchers this season, with a .365 batting average in 69 plate appearances. Any team that claims him off waivers would primarily do so for his defensive skills and speed, which could be valuable in the playoffs.

With Bader likely on his way out, the Yankees may consider giving Everson Pereira some playing time in center field, although manager Aaron Boone has suggested that Pereira's future lies in left field. Another option could be promoting Jasson Domínguez, a center field prospect who recently arrived at Triple-A and has been performing well.

At just 20 years old, Domínguez is considered the Yankees' second-best prospect, according to MLB.com. The top prospect, Spencer Jones, has recently reached Double-A. The Yankees haven't ruled out the possibility of Domínguez making his debut this year, especially with roster expansions on September 1st.

Another candidate for a call-up is Austin Wells, although he is primarily a catcher.