Philadelphia upgraded their outfield on July 31, as the Phillies picked up an outfielder capable of playing on an everyday basis. Harrison Bader, who’s having his best offensive season in four years, is headed to the Phillies for two prospects.

A Look at Bader

Harrison Bader signed a one-year deal with Minnesota this past winter, months after leaving the Mets. The 31-year-old posted decent numbers, as he hit 12 home runs and 17 stolen bases. However, he was not a regular down the stretch, as he platooned with Tyrone Taylor.

This season, Bader has been a regular for the Twins. Despite being an elite defender in center thanks to plus range and great instincts, Byron Buxton‘s presence pushed him to left.

Still, the move worked for the Twins. Bader slashed .258/.339/.439 (.778 OPS), with the former University of Florida outfielder matching his home run output from 2024 in just 96 games.

The scouting report on Bader is relatively straightforward. Bader is a very good fastball (.309 AVG in 2025) hitter, as he has quick hands and gets to pitches up without a problem. He’s been the beneficiary of hanging breaking balls, as eight of his 12 came off breaking pitches.

His most notable strength, however, is the plus glove.

Reportedly, the Phillies gave up two pieces: Hendry Mendez and Geremy Villoria. Villoria is an extremely raw product, as the Phillies signed him as a 16-year-old in January of this year. Villioria, who signed for $425,000, struck out 19 over 14 innings with the DSL.

Mendez, meanwhile, is a 21-year-old outfielder in Reading (AA). The 6’3” outfielder was acquired in November 2023 as part of the Oliver Dunn trade to Milwaukee.

The new Twins prospect is having a career year offensively, with eight home runs and 24 extra-base hits, with the former being a best, while the latter is second-best. However, Mendez has done most of his damage at home (.480 SLG), notable given Reading is a hitter-friendly park.

Analysis

It’s the second trade in 24 hours that the Twins and Phillies made with one another. On the 30th, the Phillies landed closer Jhoan Duran as part of a massive trade with Minnesota.

This one, however, is not as notable to say the least.

Bader, on an expiring deal, was very likely to be moved. And for the Phillies, it does give them a versatile right-handed bat for the outfield. Philadelphia’s received subpar production from ex-Twin Max Kepler and Johan Rojas, both of whom have sub-.660 OPS numbers. Brandon Marsh, meanwhile, is significantly better hitting against right-handed pitching.

The addition of Bader gives the Phillies a lot: both in the field and at the plate. No, he’s not a star hitter. However, his ability to make contact, along with at least a fringe-average power tool, makes him the kind of depth piece Philadelphia can use over the final two months.

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