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ESPN insider projects Harrison Bader to receive a $25 million deal this offseason

Harrison Bader started the 2025 season with the Minnesota Twins. He held the third-highest batting average on the team before he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies ahead of the deadline.

The Phillies were looking to plug a hole in the outfield, and Bader was excellent with them. He was also excellent offensively, playing in 50 regular-season games, hitting .305/.361/.463 with five home runs and 16 runs batted in.

He ended the regular season with a career-high 17 home runs, and he now heads to the open market. He should acquire a good amount of attention from teams over the winter.

ESPN insider projects Harrison Bader to receive a $25 million deal this offseason

Harrison Bader will be one of the headlining center fielders on the open market this winter. However, much of his spotlight will be stolen by Cody Bellinger.

Bellinger is projected to receive a contract north of $160 million; Bader will not cost nearly that much. ESPN's Kiley McDaniel projects Bader will receive a two-year, $25 million contract in free agency.

"I think there will be interest in a two-year deal with some risk that he might be a fourth outfielder in the second year of the deal."

McDaniel warns others that he could regress from his 2025 offensive numbers, which could make him a risk. He views Bader as someone's potential fourth outfielder if that comes to fruition in year two of his deal. But with limited center fielders available, some teams may not have another choice but to take a flier on Bader.