The Yankees have placed center fielder Harrison Bader on waivers, reports Erik Boland of Newsday (Twitter link). As is the case with the Angels’ series of waiver placements, New York’s hope is that another team will claim the remaining salary on a player who was headed to free agency in a couple months.
To be clear, these are irrevocable waivers — either of the outright or release variety. The previous system of August waiver trades — where a team could rescind a placement if another club made a claim and the two sides didn’t work out a trade — was done away with in 2019. Whichever claiming team with the highest waiver priority as of Thursday morning will get Bader while taking on the remainder of his arbitration salary. (The waiver priority is in inverse order of the MLB standings and is not league-specific.) The Yankees won’t receive any compensation besides the salary relief. In the unlikely event that he goes unclaimed, New York could opt to keep him on the major league roster for the stretch run.
It’s probably the end of Bader’s year-plus long tenure in the Bronx. New York acquired him at last summer’s deadline in a surprising one-for-one swap that sent Jordan Montgomery to St. Louis. Both players had a season and a half of remaining arbitration control at the time, making it a rather straightforward swap of veterans among contending clubs to address positions of need.
The deal worked out better for St. Louis, as Montgomery has stayed healthy and performed at an upper mid-rotation level since leaving New York. Bader played well at times for the Yankees — headlined by his five homers in nine postseason games last October — but continued dealing with various injury concerns that have plagued him throughout his career.
Bader has landed on the injured list twice this season. He started the year on the shelf with an oblique strain and missed a few weeks with a hamstring issue. He has struggled mightily since returning on June 20, slumping to a .230/.272/.304 batting line in 55 contests. His season slash is down to .242/.279/.370 with just seven homers through 302 plate appearances.
It’s arguably the worst offensive showing of Bader’s career. While he’s never posted huge on-base numbers, this year’s mark is a personal low. It’s the 11th-lowest figure for a hitter with 300+ trips to the dish. Bader is avoiding strikeouts but very rarely walks and has hit just .274 on balls in play.
The offensive struggles are ill-timed for a player on the verge of his first trip to the open market. Yet his secondary skills are strong enough he’s likely to attract interest from another team down the stretch. Bader is a plus defensive center fielder who has again rated highly in his 655 1/3 innings there this season. He has stolen 16 bases in 18 attempts. He at least looks the part of a high-end fourth outfielder, even if other teams are reluctant to displace their starting center fielder for a player who hasn’t hit well of late.
Bader is only likely to appeal to teams in playoff contention. He’ll still be a free agent at year’s end. Taking on what remains of his $5.2MM salary (a little under $900K) only appeals to teams with a shot at contending. The Yankees would save that amount in salary, plus the 75% tax they’re paying for exceeding the CBT for a second straight season. With New York out of playoff contention and Bader’s rough season taking him out of consideration to receive a qualifying offer, the Yankees have decided to make him available to other clubs.
Didn’t see this one coming at all…
Hey Master Bader have a great career!
Get rid of Stanton and then we’ll talk
Agreed, Stanton sucks
House cleaning in the Bronx. Never thought Id see the day.
Donaldson and Bader were going to be free agents regardless so house cleaning seems like a strong way to put it. They really haven’t gotten rid of anyone under contract for 2024 except for maybe Hicks.
After all the slacker only stole 16 bases
Master Bader got yanked
…and then released…
it’s a shame he wasn’t covered
Qucik someone go check on Reese McGuire, is he okay?
Lol
Something’s in the water today.
I think it mostly has to do with Friday being the deadline for adding players that can still be retained for your playoff roster. all these waiver moves give these guys a shot to play for a playoff contender and/or “tryout” with a team that might want to give them a deal this offseason. ultimately though, it saves their current teams money if someone selects them
Yeah, I think you nailed it!
Goodbye, Harrison!
If you’re referring to Bader, that ain’t water you’re looking at…
Big market yanks and angels waiving the white flag to save money lol comical.
Running from the luxury tax which makes sense – still not cool though. None of these dudes should be eligible for the playoffs.
Why punish the players? For being on a team that’s not in the playoffs?
How is it punishing them? It’s giving them a chance to play for a playoff team, potentially!
If Smacky’s proposal that these players not be eligible for the playoffs was in place, that would be punishing the players.
Yes these players are way too expensive!
It’s more of the rosters are “set” after the trade deadline and now all of sudden they aren’t and there’s a bunch of players potentially to be had.
Guess they got jealous of the Angels taking up the waiver wire with their players.
makes sense, any contending team would rather bader then grichuk or renfroe
Why wasn’t he traded at the deadline?!??
Because according to Aaron Boone the Yankees playoff chances were right in front of them.
He was right – they’re playoff chances are still right in front of them – 11 games in front of them to be precise
Things always work out for the Yankees like they have the last 30 years, can’t really blame them for thinking they would again.
They were only 3.5 back on July 31. Now they’re 11 back
and all the teams in front of them in the division made moves to get better, while the Yanks waffled between buy/sell and ended up adding two garbage time RPs as their “buys”
Cashman’s hubris finally gonna catch up with him on this one. thought the team was good enough as-is to compete and he was wildly mistaken
…or as the Australians say, they’re in the outback…
No rules. JUST RIGHT!
For the same reason none of the Cardinals’ outfielders were traded. Teams simply weren’t interested in giving up anything of value.
It’s probably the dumbest trade deadline for the Yankees in a while. They could have gotten value from Gleyber, Harrison, and Peralta too. Cashman should have sold. Doing nothing is crazy I believe Yankees fans shouted at the time.
“This guy stinks” Bob Barker, RIP
Cashman is a complete and total mess it’s now time for him to fire Boone then fire himself. The Yankees need to rebuild with young talent while being developed with new energetic management.
Cashman can’t fire Boone; Hal owns the team
Cashman is the greatest GM the NYY have had not named George Weiss. I think Aaron Boone is a BS artist. And a lousy mgr who relies on the whole canard called “analytics” to the detriment of the team. Fire Boone.
Are you crazy Boone has to do that Cashman is the analytics guy
Using data and information is a canard???
Jays could use a RHH outfielder capable of CF
Problem is he’s in a slump and can’t stay healthy. Bader would get injured on the flight and be out for the year.
Lol
Billy Hamilton!
Farhan needs to DFa Ramos and claim him. Extend him.
Now call up Florial.
He’s still has a chance to prove he’s not a “bust”
Like idk probably is but he deserves a shot. If the Yankees were in contention I’d say no way.
Yeah, he’s still has a good shot he only got a few some 100 at bats and he wasn’t starting regularly. I’m rooting for him.
By getting rid of Bader, they did open a spot on the 40 man.
Yup
They’re not releasing Josh Donaldson to give Florial his roster spot.
Bader: “So does this mean no extension?”
I think if Bader had been healthy all year he very likely would have landed an extension in the Bronx, even if the bat wasn’t great. He brings great defense in a premier position and seems like one of the few players with some actual heart.
BUT… he wasn’t healthy all year clearly and the Yanks already have significant issues in handing out lots of money to perennially hurt players, so a multi-year Bader deal is the exact kind of thing they should be avoiding. And given the FA market this year and his position… Bader is 100% going to get a multi-year deal somewhere if he wants one.
Only reason I could see him doing a 1-year deal is if he wants to have a “prove it” contract that pays him a bit more but doesn’t offer long term security, in the hopes he can head into next year’s winter with a chance at a bigger deal.
Anyone giving a player like Bader a “multi year deal” with his injury history is nuts…plain and simple….his defense is a bit over-rated and is just a reflection of todays analytics….giving him the benefit of doubt, his offense is streaky and a reflection of not being able to stay on the field…..the Montgomery trade looks terrible in hindsight given this guys total contribution between the later parts to 22 and so far in 23……more likely is a 1 year prove it to me you can stay on the field deal with a team……
@Rocky7
I don’t think there’s any doubt the Yankees would be better off without both the Montas and Bader trades. Montgomery is better than Montas. He may have made a difference for the Yankees this year.
Bader is not overrated. What are you even talking about. He’s also the only 5 tool player on the team aside from an aging DJL
@Yank2 Which one’s the tool that can’t hit?
people are delusional if they think Bader isn’t likely to get a multi year deal. It’s not surprising though because many commenters on this site seem to think Bellinger isn’t about to land a massive deal, which is just plain insanity
you have to go off what the off-season market is shaping up to be, and that’s one that is pretty dang weak. Bader has a very reasonable shot at something like 3 years/$40+ million
I think something more incentive based is probably more likely. He’ll get that much, if he stays healthy.
I doubt somebody offers him more than a 1 year deal for less than what he is being paid this season because he is not really good except for his AVG which is on par with average players nowadays, considering how the league is plagued with horrible batting averages (yes, that’s important when a player has no power and lacks the hability to get walks).
NYY not dealing @ deadline to reload for 2024 was a blunder that will carry over. Watch
Come back to the Cardinals
The Cardinals are not going to the playoffs
A team putting in a claim doesn’t have to be going to the playoffs. In fact, if the Cardinals wanted him, and put in a claim, they would have priority over a team with a better record. I doubt that the Cards would put in a claim. They know his medical records better than just about everyone, and probably traded him because of them.
Why would the Cardinals claim him for 1 month of meaningless baseball?
If you read what I wrote, I never said they would want to.
Half these guys being released won’t be picked up by anyone.
They can stay and play….or really sit and watch. if they want or start their fall winter break. If no one claims them.
I wouldn’t be surprised if all the players get claimed. Not much is owed and they can all help a teams playoff push.
Wait, wasn’t this the “can’t miss guy” Cashman had to have at the cost of tading Montgomery? And wasn’t that other guy the answer at 3B?
When are the Yankees going to place Cashman on waivers?
Bader will be claimed by the Giants by tomorrow
It’s Shpeter Bader !
This is a wow move. They traded Jordan Montgomery for nothing.
But but but people said he was a Mickey Mantle with better fielding!!! Jokes aside it was fun to watch him field, unfortunately during the regular season that’s all he did :-/
Good player to keep as bench, not so much as an everyday player.
Yes, he’d be an excellent bench player / pr given his plus D at a critical position. BUT, CF is such a weak position at the moment someone will offer him a starting gig and pray he remains healthy.
Fake News
I don’t think this is true
“Harrison will be back out there on the field tomorrow, just giving him a day”- Aaron Boone.
How’s he playing CF tonight if he was placed on waivers?
For yesterday’s Aaron Boone, Bader is the starting CF; for today’s Aaron Boone, not so much and he’s looking for a new team.
He can keep on playing until time runs out on his waiver. It has to be one of the hardest things as a player to be playing not know whether you will be picked up by somebody or if your season has ended once this game ends.
List the teams that are willing to pay 900K for a CFer with some postseason heroics to his credit.
All of them?
According yo ESPN, not only is Bader in yanks lineup, but Grichuk and Renfroe are playing for the Angels.
Grichuk homered tonight.
He’s still on the roster until at least tomorrow afternoon, despite the waivers. Teams have that long to put in a claim and for the claim to be decided, .
read the articles…he has to be claimed or if he isn’t, he can give the yankees the bird and fly home for the winter. He can stay and eat some crow if he wants..but would be sitting on the bench like a lame duck!
BUT,
The Yankees could just release him like Donaldson!
One of the fun players to watch with the Yankees, downside was that he doesn’t hit but he is the kind of player I would love for them to keep at the right price because he can be a serviceable defense first bench player.
I hope everything goes well for Bader wherever he ends up playing, it was fun to watch him even though I would have liked for Montgomery to still be with the team, still I am happy for Monty because he is again in a playoff contender.
They could resign both if they wanted to this off-season. Unlikely, but they could do so.
@LeMike Bader’s also your starting CF against LHP (career OPS around .847 v LHP, iirc) unless your CFer is someone like Belli.
I don’t think this is accurate
The Padres have the NL equivalent in Trent Grisham…..both great defense, neither can hit the broad side of a barn. Both are fourth outfielders at best, late inning defensive replacements.
Bader is playing right now. So are some of the Angels guys. How does that work?
If no team claims them then they stay.
If nobody puts in a claim, then they are technically a free agent and can stay with the team that put them on waivers, if they both agree, is the way that I read it.
If no team claims then they clear waivers and remain under contract with their respective teams. It’s not the same as an outright release or DFA.
In this case Bader would become a free agent if he goes unclaimed since it’s irrevocable waivers. He can either become a free agent or stay with the team. But I would think the latter part would have to be a mutual agreement. If unclaimed Yankees still have to pay his remaining salary. In other words he’s likely gone either way because I think on Friday Dominguez and Wells are getting called up to take Bader and Donaldson’s roster spots on the 40 man.
The article doesn’t make it easy to understand. Bader will stay with the team if he clears waivers. The Yankees can keep him on the roster or send him down to the minors and be off the 40-man. If Bader refuses (which is understandable), he can then opt for free agency.
northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/08/29/mlb-wa…
I agree, it is confusing for sure. I think because it’s all still new from the latest CBA agreement.
We used to have the August waiver trade deadline, and also players were put on waivers and then teams could revoke. Which happened all the time. But now this irrevocable adds a new element.
I’ve read a bunch of various articles and probably only one explains clearly what happens when a player goes unclaimed. In the past, most teams put the majority of their players on revocable waivers just to see which teams would claim them. There is only no trading of players this time. If Bader gets picked up, they receive a nominal sum of money as a waiver fee. I don’t even understand why there is one.
Here’s another one: blogs.fangraphs.com/qa-what-the-heck-did-the-angel…
Kind of weird because if they get hurt the team is stuck with them on the roster and being paid. What is the upside?
Normally, players being put on waivers is not something that is publicized, unless a player is DFA’d. An announcement isn’t made unless they get claimed. To the fans, it appears as an instantaneous move, but really took a couple days. If the player is not claimed, chances are the player wouldn’t even be aware of it, so they just continue playing for the team, like nothing happened, because nothing is what did happen. Before the trade deadline, teams use revocable waivers to see if any team might have interest, and if claimed, pull them back, and start talking trade.
So why is he playing tonight?
In hopes that he shows something, and someone picks him up, and takes his money off the Yankees hands.
Dr. Dick is right–Bader is in the lineup tonight. Yankees doing their usual mashing—five hits! Bader 0-3 at this moment.. I don’t understand Cashman. Someone might pick Bader and his contract up–he’s a useful layer–but they can’t if he’s not put on waivers. And, if it was just money, some team would have traded for him at rhe deadline….but, no, can’t do that,
I think CF is cursed in Yankee stadium. They need some Jobu and some fried chicken..go get Cerrano for a consult!
Bader’s style of play always reminded me of Willie Mays Hays. He seems cocky, plus should be legging them out, not lifting it for warning track power.
Can they get another team to claim Cashman and his salary as well?
He can still play unless claimed right?
We won’t find out if claimed or not until Thursday. So he can play tonight and tomorrow. Probably not Thursday’s day game though.
If a player that was put on waivers isn’t claimed, he stays on his current roster.
Depending on the players status, several things can happen. If enough service time, player can take his salary and work out his own deal as a FA, or spend some time with family while getting paid. He could elect to stay with the team. If not enough service time, may have to accept a minor league assignment to get paid, could get released, could stay with team. I believe all these players have significant service time to walk if they choose, and still keep the money. Some, like Donaldson was, will be released to provide playing time for younger players.
They could have just traded him last month . Even if all they got was a lottery ticket prospect or a 25 26 year old double A guy. It’s better than this
What a waste of a perfectly good Jordan Montgomery
I wouldn’t have resigned him. He’s a fantastic centerfielder with great footwork, but he also plays a little too aggressive getting inexcusably thrown out on the bases and some overthrows to the infield. If he walked more and put the ball in play on the ground more (instead of lifting the ball), using his legs he’d be a more valuable player. Also too injury prone throughout his career.
If a player who is put on waivers isn’t claimed, he stays on his current roster.
If Bader gets claimed for his ~$880k remaining salary, all signs point to Jasson Dominguez getting a callup and a look in CF in Sept. I can’t imagine IKF or McKinney playing there everyday. Some are going to argue Florial but that would mean adding him to the 40-man and most likely non-tendering him for next season.
If they lose Bader, they will have a spot on the 40. Why would they no non-tender Florial if he comes up and performs? He makes league minimum.
Bc the front office doesn’t believe he’ll perform well. Might as well stash him in AAA for another season to see if he can find another gear.
This and Donaldson earlier in the day should be seen as a requiem for the Cashman Era. It won’t be.
Could he come back to the Cardinals ?
We’ve missed his style of play.
Bader found out from TV that he was put on waivers. Classy.
So classless that they didn’t even tell him. I thought Cashman was better than that.
I don’t understand this move. It was a gut punch to the team last year giving up Montgomery because Cashman assumed he was going to lose Judge.
For expanded rosters, I would like to see the Marlins take him on as a flyer, and tell Avi Garcia to just go home for the rest of the season.
Another giant FU to the fanbase, from the spoiled, useless Steinbrenner spawn. Bader is a spectacular defensive player. Denying season ticket holders his presence in center field at Yankee Stadium, for the rest of the season …. when he’s not even making significant money by NYC standards … that’s not a good “business decision”. That’s hurting your brand for nothing.
And even on the field …. they’re still in contention for a positive record. Which MEANS A LOT for this particular club. It would be a bit of a consolation prize for people who’ve been supporting this team for a long time.