Outfielder Harrison Bader has agreed to a one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins, according to a person familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity. The deal, which has not been finalized, includes a mutual option for 2026.
Bader, who won a Gold Glove with St. Louis in 2021, will join his fifth team in five years. Last season, he played for the New York Mets, hitting .236 with 12 home runs, 51 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases in 25 attempts. He made only two postseason starts in 12 games.
Bader is expected to be a solid right-handed bat off the bench and provide strong defense in the outfield. His presence will allow the Twins to maintain defensive stability, especially when Byron Buxton needs rest.
Most of Bader’s career has been spent in center field, though he is also capable of playing in the corner spots. His role with the Twins will likely resemble that of Michael A. Taylor in 2023. The Twins had hoped Manny Margot would fill this role last season, but after Margot struggled, he was not re-signed.
Over his career, Bader has a .242 batting average, with 71 home runs, 268 RBIs, and 94 stolen bases in 120 attempts. He has played for the Cardinals (2017-22), Yankees (2022-23), Cincinnati (2023), and the Mets, where he signed a one-year, $10.5 million deal.
The Twins are also close to finalizing a one-year contract with left-handed pitcher Danny Coulombe, who spent the past two years with the Baltimore Orioles after pitching for the Twins from 2020 to 2022. Last year, Coulombe posted a 2.12 ERA with a 1-0 record, striking out 32 in 29 2/3 innings. Over his career, Coulombe has played for the Dodgers, Athletics, Twins, and Orioles.
