Bron in New York, outfielder Harrison Bader made a strong career for himself at Cardinals. His base running ability and strong outfielder skills at the center field made him a hot pick in the market. The New York Yankees were swayed by Bader’s skills as they traded him during the 2022 season in a mega package deal.
In a short span of time, Harrison Bader won the hearts of the critical fan base of the New York Yankees. However, the 2023 MLB season brought along a different set of challenges for the center fielder. He struggled with injuries throughout the year while witnessing offensive slumps on the plate. It reached a point where the franchise chose to cut ties.
Harrison Bader Claimed By Cincinnati Reds Off Waivers
After a tough season, the New York Yankees made a bold decision to place outfielder Harrison Bader on waivers earlier this week. The center fielder, unaware of his future, continued to don pinstripes. Apparently, the team didn’t inform him of the move, as he got to know through ESPN. Regardless, on Thursday, Bader was officially claimed off the waivers by the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds sit at a playoff wildcard spot in NL Central and desperately need strong players to ensure a playoff berth. The OF will leave the Yankee clubhouse immediately to feature in the Reds’ upcoming series vs. the White Sox. However, before leaving, Bader got emotional while summing up his experience in the pinstripes.
Speaking with media after the game against the Tigers, Harrison Bader said, “It just means so much to me to be a New York City kid playing in the Bronx for the Yankees.” The outfielder is grateful for the two-season-long journey. Regardless of where he ended up, no one can take away the fact that he got to put up the pinstripes. Further, captain Aaron Judge said that Bader always wanted to win a world series. With the Reds, he will have an opportunity to contest, and he wishes the OF the best. While losing the outfielder is tough for the captain, considering the strong relationship the duo built in the last two years, the captain understands that it’s in the best interest of Bader as he is an impending free agent.
Ex-Yankees Veteran Finds Shelter In Milwaukee!
Prior to losing Harrison Bader, the New York Yankees released their troubled veteran infielder, Josh Donaldson. The baseman’s tenure with the Yanks has been nothing short of a disaster. His recurring injuries this year made things worse as the team chose to cut ties for good. Josh was released last week and has apparently bagged a new contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers have locked in Donaldson in a minor league contract at Triple-A Nashville.
However, since Josh Donaldson is reeling from a calf injury at the moment, he won’t be featuring in any games momentarily. Regardless, the Yankees have opened up two roster spots in the past week. If rumors are to be believed, those spots could be assigned to prospects Jasson Dominguez and Austin Wells. The duo is likely to debut vs. the Astros over the weekend series.