The Philadelphia Phillies have a few roster gaps that must be filled before the 2024 MLB season.
The outfield is one place that could use some assistance.
As Matt Gelb of The Athletic recently stated in his blog, the Phillies are uneasy about going into next season with Brandon Marsh or Johan Rojas as daily players. For the time being.
That has reportedly led Philadelphia to look at some external options to help fortify the question marks in the outfield. Taking into account both Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos’ defensive liabilities, the Phillies may need to take a hard look at revamping their strategy when it comes to how the outfield is aligned.
One name Gelb mentioned was former New York Yankees centerfielder Harrison Bader.
Bader is a right-handed hitter, so he would complement the lineup well. He is also an elite defender in center field, which could allow for one of Marsh or Rojas to play a corner outfield spot while giving Schwarber or Castellanos time at DH. That would improve the defensive alignment considerably while not sacrificing offense.
In 2023, Bader slashed .232/.374/.348 with seven home runs. He was selected off of waivers in August by the Cincinnati Reds after he was released by the Yankees.
Bader’s 2023 slashline was right in line with his career numbers, but he could have a positive effect on the Phillies roster. However, as Gelb pointed out, it could be a hard sell to Bader who could sign with a team and garner more playing time. Realistically, he would be relegated to a platoon role with Philadelphia.
Bader is just one of several names being floated by the Phillies, including Whit Merrifield.
