Yankees’ Harrison Bader Placed on Waivers, Unsure of Future
DETROIT — Harrison Bader was caught off guard when he saw his name appear on the bottom of the screen in the Yankees’ lunchroom at Comerica Park on Tuesday afternoon. New York had decided to place him on waivers.
The move, first reported by Newsday’s Erik Boland and later confirmed by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand through a source, has not been officially confirmed by the Yankees. Manager Aaron Boone stated after the game that he could not comment on the situation.
Despite the uncertainty, Bader remained focused on his job before the game. He started in center field and batted sixth against the Tigers, doing his best to block out the distractions. However, he admitted that the unknowns surrounding his current situation gnawed at him during the moments of inaction.
After the Yankees secured a 4-2 victory, Bader seemed to accept that a change was on the horizon. However, he remained hopeful about what the future might hold.
“Regardless of what happened or may happen, just getting the opportunity to play in this uniform — and I still hopefully do get the opportunity to — just everything that’s happened has been an absolute blessing. An absolute gift,” Bader said.
As the Yankees sit 11 games out of postseason contention, they have shifted their focus to long-term goals. Recently, they have been giving more playing time to their young talent, allowing them to gain experience as they build towards the future. Bader, coming off an NL Gold Glove Award-winning season with the Cardinals in 2021, was expected to bolster the team’s outfield defense.
The Yankees had initially moved Aaron Judge out of center field to preserve his health and prepare for a deep postseason run. Bader, a Bronxville native, seemed like a good fit for the team, adding a touch of nostalgia to the trade.
Bader made a strong debut with the Yankees on September 20, with two hits and three RBIs. He continued to impress during the 2022 postseason with five home runs in nine games, although the Yankees eventually fell to the Astros in the AL Championship Series.
However, since then, Bader’s career has failed to take off as envisioned. Numerous injuries, including plantar fasciitis, a left oblique strain, and a right hamstring strain, have limited his opportunities at the plate. In total, Bader has played in only 97 games during his tenure with the Yankees.
With the season coming to an end, Bader is set to become a free agent. If another team claims him off waivers, the Yankees would be relieved of the remainder of his $5.2 million contract. Additionally, signing with a new team before Thursday’s deadline would make Bader eligible to appear on a postseason roster.
“It’s a difficult situation,” Bader admitted. “Players have been through this before, and who knows what happens? I just know that when I get the bat in my hands and get an opportunity to play center field, I know what I can do. So I’m just excited, and we’ll see where it goes.”
Bader’s future remains uncertain, but he remains optimistic for what lies ahead.