Phillies Trade for Harrison Bader from Twins

The Philadelphia Phillies made headlines again as they finalized a trade with the Minnesota Twins, acquiring outfielder Harrison Bader just before the 6 p.m. trade deadline on Thursday. This marks the second deal between the two teams in as many days.

In exchange for Bader, the Phillies sent outfielder Hendry Mendez and right-handed pitcher Geremy Villoria to Minnesota. To make room for Bader, Philadelphia designated pitcher Brett de Geus for assignment.

Bader, 31, has had a solid season with the Twins, posting a .258 batting average along with a .339 on-base percentage and a .439 slugging percentage, resulting in a .778 OPS over 96 games. His performance has been consistent against both right-handed and left-handed pitchers, with OPS figures of .779 and .774, respectively. Primarily playing left field this season, he is also recognized for his defensive capabilities across all three outfield positions.

Having signed with the Twins in February, Bader will now join his sixth team since 2022. His addition is expected to provide the Phillies with a much-needed right-handed bat, although questions remain about how he will fit into the team's overall lineup.

Earlier in the week, the Phillies acquired closer Jhoan Duran from the Twins, trading away two top 100 prospects: catcher Eduardo Tait and pitcher Mick Abel. Duran, 27, is known for his high-velocity pitches, including fastballs reaching 100 mph and "splinkers" at 97.5 mph, making him a valuable asset to the Phillies' bullpen.

Following the Duran trade, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski indicated that the team was still in pursuit of additional offensive talent, specifically looking for another right-handed bat. Bader fits this requirement perfectly.

Mendez, who was ranked as the Phillies' No. 12 prospect by MLB.com, has been performing well in Double-A this season with a .290 batting average and an .808 OPS over 85 games. Villoria has made five starts in the Dominican Summer League, holding a 4.50 ERA.