Should the Yankees extend Bader?

[drt1010]

The Yankees Should Extend Harrison Bader
by Ben Clemens
January 17, 2023

.....let’s talk about Harrison Bader, the once exuberantly-coiffed Yankees outfielder. The Bronx Bombers swapped Jordan Montgomery for Bader at the trade deadline last year in a move that neither team’s fanbase was in love with. Both players then turned around and contributed exactly what their team was hoping for....

Average defense in center is a neat skill to have, but Bader is light years beyond that. He’s a perennial Gold Glove contender, and that might be underselling it. Beginning in 2017, his first full season in the majors, Statcast has Bader as the fourth-best center fielder in the game, 46 runs above average, behind only Lorenzo Cain, Byron Buxton, and Kevin Kiermaier. Prefer other defensive metrics? DRS thinks he’s fifth-best (behind Kiermaier, Michael A. Taylor, Buxton, and Cain) and UZR thinks he’s the best, period.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-yank...arrison-bader/

[Kinkotheclown]

Unless it's a short term, 2-3 year deal including this year or if they move Hicks, no.
Absolutely not.

Aside from that, he's barely played. He's a carrier 245/310 hitter. I love how the guy plays. I think they need to see who he really is. Can he hit like he did in that tiny period of time? Can he stay healthy?
I will be shocked if he has such a good year that he prices himself off the Yankees. I think they can get a deal done next year if he deserves it.

[dayners81]

I would wait to extend him until the sample size is bigger.

It also depends on the development of Jones and Dom. If Bader goes back to being the hitter he was before he got here and Jones/Dom take off this yr, we'd likely end up regretting extending Bader.

If he continues to be the player he was with us last yr in the 1st half, approach him with an extension. That, or just wait till the off season so we have a full season sample size.

[ShadyOne]

Unless it’s very cheap, not now..

But I could see him sticking around if he plays relatively well

[drt1010]

Unless it's a short term, 2-3 year deal including this year or if they move Hicks, no.
Absolutely not.

Aside from that, he's barely played. He's a carrier 245/310 hitter. I love how the guy plays. I think they need to see who he really is. Can he hit like he did in that tiny period of time? Can he stay healthy?
I will be shocked if he has such a good year that he prices himself off the Yankees. I think they can get a deal done next year if he deserves it.

I thought you would be willing to sacrifice some offense for the stellar, world class gold glove?

I think he will hit better in Yankee Stadium. Bader posted .333/.429/.833 with a team-leading five homers in nine postseason games. He eventually made his way up to the lead-off spot in Game 2 of the ALCS. Just a hunch, but I sense he likes being in NY, so close to home and that in itself may motivate the bat.

[Kinkotheclown]

I thought you would be willing to sacrifice some offense for the stellar, world class gold glove?

I think he will hit better in Yankee Stadium. Bader posted .333/.429/.833 with a team-leading five homers in nine postseason games. He eventually made his way up to the lead-off spot in Game 2 of the ALCS. Just a hunch, but I sense he likes being in NY, so close to home and that in itself may motivate the bat.

Doc, that is a totally different scenario. Yes, I would accept that for a rookie who is on a minute contract and who will have one year to prove something. Yes. That is when I will accept GG defense and sacrifice offense.
Where have I suggested otherwise? I have stated that I don't want guys like Kepler because he would be too expensive and not produce enough, offensively

No. I do not want low offense in exchange for GG defense, from an established vet who will command a 3-5 year, high priced deal? If I liked that, I would be happy with JD and his deal.

As I said and I would think from your commentary regarding playing rookies, you would appreciate, the sample size of his production is too small to judge and why would I want to give any sort of long term deal to someone yet to prove they are better than a 250 hitter?
In short, Bader has proven nothing. Why extend him when you have yet to see what player he is?

[Kinkotheclown]

Unless it’s very cheap, not now..

But I could see him sticking around if he plays relatively well

Agreed

[goingfor28]

I agree with the majority. He was excellent for us last year, but in a very very small sample size. If he continues his GG defense and has even an average bat this year, I'd gladly extend him sometime later for sure.

Also, I LOVE how he plays the game. I'm someone who very much appreciates hustle and effort. That was my biggest issue with Gary, and my biggest issue w Gleyber. Hate the laziness.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

[Webslinger]

With Flo, Everson Pereira, Dom and Jones potentially knocking on the door what would be the point? Even Judge can play center if need be.

[drt1010]

Clown you have a team loaded with .250 hitters or lower! Bader makes contact, steals bases and has some power. With his glove and speed, I'll take it. He strikes me as a gritty, blue collar type player. He could cut down on his K rate and take more walks, with his speed they could be doubles.

Another reason I'd like him extended, I want Judge playing as little CF as possible. His legs take enough pounding in RF, no need to add to the stress.

[drt1010]

With Flo, Everson Pereira, Dom and Jones potentially knocking on the door what would be the point? Even Judge can play center if need be.

The only one close is Flo and frankly seems like he is a persona non grata lately.

[Kinkotheclown]

Clown you have a team loaded with .250 hitters or lower! Bader makes contact, steals bases and has some power. With his glove and speed, I'll take it. He strikes me as a gritty, blue collar type player. He could cut down on his K rate and take more walks, with his speed they could be doubles.

Another reason I'd like him extended, I want Judge playing as little CF as possible. His legs take enough pounding in RF, no need to add to the stress.

I stated. I love how he plays the game.
I still wouldn't extend him until he proves he can stay on the field and play consistently well

[drt1010]

I stated. I love how he plays the game.
I still wouldn't extend him until he proves he can stay on the field and play consistently well

Fair enough. I agree he got off to a bad start, coming over with an injury.

[Chapin78]

He still needs to prove his worth on the team. I really like the small sample size he showed and in the post season too. I just don't think he is worth a Benitendi type deal (I am going to assume that would be a player to compare too in negotiations).

[johnnyi]

He's making $5.2 million on an arb 3 final year salary at 29 years old. If we offer him an extension now, he'll take less than he'd make as a free agent. I wouldn't mind a 2 year extension at $10 - $12 million or so per year for his age 30 and 31 seasons. He might turn it down, but it would be double his current salary guaranteed by the team that he dreams about playing with. If all the prospects develop, then we have a dynamic 4th OF. Of course, it might depend on how seriously we believe that we can land Reynolds and whether Dom is included in that trade.