3 NY Mets players who should be able to get paid more than expected this offseason

2) Harrison Bader is the best free agent center fielder out there

From the start of free agency, no center fielder was better than Harrison Bader. That tells us a lot about the choices out there. Bader did not have a very good year. He lost his starting job by the end of it and hardly participated in the playoffs beyond defensive replacement duties.

Amazingly one of the team’s better hitters in the early part of the year, he went face-first into a proverbial wall and never seemed to peel himself off of it. His .236/.284/.373 slash line with the Mets last year were all below the .242/.306/.392 he has hit for his career.

For what it’s worth, Bader actually did precisely what he should have for the Mets just not spread out evenly enough. The kind of offensive numbers he had in 2024 paired with the usual defensive greatness is what any team signing Bader should expect in the coming year.

Does he receive another one-year deal worth $10.5 million? It seems pricey for a guy who lacks everyday tools. However, he should still earn significantly more than any other center fielder in free agency and more than the fans can rationalize a player of his skills deserve.

Bader was a good Mets player but at $10.5 million, the Mets were buying him at fair market value in a free agent pool where the demand surpassed the supply.