Former NY Mets player might be just what the Phillies need

Harrison Bader could be the spark that gets Philly going.
Pittsburgh Pirates v Minnesota Twins
Pittsburgh Pirates v Minnesota Twins | David Berding/GettyImages

At the halfway point of the season, the NL East race has been entertaining to watch so far, as the New York Mets trail their division rival, the Phillies, by just half a game. It's been a season of ups and downs so far for the Mets, recently coming off the hardest down stretch they've faced thus far. On the other side of the coin, the Phillies have had some problems of their own, mainly the fact that their offense has not been on par with what it can be and has been in the past under their current core.

One of the Phillies' biggest issues at the plate this season has been Brandon Marsh. Just two years removed from an .829 OPS season, the centerfielder is slashing just .259/.332/.365 with three home runs and 21 RBI in 2025, posting a fWAR under one.

The Phillies can fill their centerfield hole at the deadline by acquiring a former Mets fan favorite.

He's no superstar, but Harrison Bader is having a very solid season in Minnesota. In 84 games with the Twins, he's put up an OPS of .767 and a 1.9 fWAR. He's also been fantastic in the clutch, slashing .257/.333/.505 with men on base and .280/.379/.520 with two outs and runners in scoring position. This would certainly be a change of pace from Marsh, a guy who's been practically nonexistent in clutch situations. Bader is also far better in the field than Marsh; acquiring him at the deadline will upgrade a Phillies team that is one of the worst in MLB defensively.

If the Phillies wanted to turn to the bigger guy on the Twins in Byron Buxton, they're out of luck; Minnesota's slugger reportedly plans to waive his no-trade clause. At the end of the day, this could be a good thing for the Phillies, as targeting Bader would be a far cheaper option while still covering major team needs.

The Mets, of course, are a team that could hypothetically use Bader as well, but seeing how they utilized him last year, a reunion between the two parties is unlikely. The Mets are a team more fit to go after big fish like Jarren Duran in center than take a gamble with another Bader stint.