Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski has consistently expressed confidence in his team's current roster, but that doesn't necessarily mean he won't take advantage of a bargain if presented. With $15 million still available to spend this season, there's always a chance the Phillies could revisit their interest in free agent outfielder Harrison Bader.
After failing to secure Bo Bichette at the 11th hour, Dombrowski signed J.T. Realmuto to a three-year deal worth $15 million annually. While it's unlikely the Phillies will rekindle their pursuit of Bader, who has been on the market for some time, it's not entirely out of the question.
The Mets, Diamondbacks, and Cardinals are still in need of outfield help, making them logical teams to consider for Bader. The 32-year-old outfielder has already played for the Cardinals from 2017-2022 and may prefer a return to a contender rather than staying with a rebuilding team that hasn't made the postseason in three years.
The Phillies' decision to give top prospect Justin Crawford a shot at winning the center field job could be influenced by Bader's availability. If Crawford struggles, re-signing Bader would provide another badly needed right-handed bat in the lineup and give Crawford the opportunity to win the left field job at camp instead of being handed it outright.
While the idea of bringing back Bader seems like a long shot, it's worth exploring if the price is right. The Phillies have the financial flexibility to make it happen, and given their current roster situation, it might be worth taking a chance on the veteran outfielder.
After failing to secure Bo Bichette at the 11th hour, Dombrowski signed J.T. Realmuto to a three-year deal worth $15 million annually. While it's unlikely the Phillies will rekindle their pursuit of Bader, who has been on the market for some time, it's not entirely out of the question.
The Mets, Diamondbacks, and Cardinals are still in need of outfield help, making them logical teams to consider for Bader. The 32-year-old outfielder has already played for the Cardinals from 2017-2022 and may prefer a return to a contender rather than staying with a rebuilding team that hasn't made the postseason in three years.
The Phillies' decision to give top prospect Justin Crawford a shot at winning the center field job could be influenced by Bader's availability. If Crawford struggles, re-signing Bader would provide another badly needed right-handed bat in the lineup and give Crawford the opportunity to win the left field job at camp instead of being handed it outright.
While the idea of bringing back Bader seems like a long shot, it's worth exploring if the price is right. The Phillies have the financial flexibility to make it happen, and given their current roster situation, it might be worth taking a chance on the veteran outfielder.
. My kid's team plays outfield and it's all about having that extra boost when you're playing against stronger teams. With $15 million still available, it's like they have a safety net to fall back on if Crawford doesn't work out... maybe it's worth taking a chance? 
And now that Bader's been out there for ages, it makes me wonder if Dombrowski might still want to snag him. 
The Mets and Cards are both looking pretty weak in OUTFIELD land, so if they're open to spending, that's a plus... 
I mean, Crawford's got potential, but he's not the same as having Bader's bat in the lineup... 
What do you guys think? Should Philly give Bader another shot at a contender role? 
. If they're really struggling in center field, it wouldn't hurt to at least consider bringing him back - even if it means giving up some of their top prospect. Crawford's a talented kid and all, but he needs to prove himself first 
. Why not take a chance on Bader and hope for the best?
[A picture of a baseball bat with a price tag on it] 
[A GIF of a baseball player swinging and missing] ...they might as well try to snag Bader for cheap! 
[A screenshot from a video game where you can buy players]
. Maybe not the most likely move, but you never know what can happen when teams are feeling desperate 
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think about it they got j.t realmuto but he's pretty pricey meanwhile crawford's still finding his feet 
so if its not a huge price drop bader might be worth taking a shot at 
If Crawford struggles they gotta consider giving Bader a shot, he's been on the market for ages and might just appreciate playing with a contender again 
He's always been super confident in his team's abilities, but hey, who needs a proven player when you've got a prospect who might just become a benchwarmer? 
The Phillies are definitely in need of a right-handed bat, and if they can get Bader on a deal that doesn't break the bank, I'm not going to lie and say it's a bad idea. But let's be real, he's been out there for a while... like, 2022 
I think the Phillies should defo consider bringin' back Harrison Bader 
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. They've been pretty confident in their young guns like Crawford and Ramos, but what if things don't click? Having a seasoned vet like Bader around could make all the difference 
the pitcher guy threw so many strikes in like 2 minutes I was on the edge of my seat! 