The Philadelphia Phillies may already be planning their next move after a surprising addition.
The Philadelphia Phillies solved one piece of their outfield puzzle this week, signing Adolis Garcia to a one-year, $10 million contract.
However, the Phillies still have to work to do at the position.
With Philadelphia likely out on both Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, the team may have to go bargain hunting or pursue a trade.
On that note, Matt Gelb of The Athletic has reported that the Phillies may already have their sights set on their next move: re-signing Harrison Bader.
"The Phillies have remained interested in a reunion with Bader, who is seeking a lucrative multi-year deal," Gelb wrote. "If the Phillies re-signed Bader, they would probably have to reallocate payroll from other spots on the roster, possibly through an Alec Bohm trade."
The problem with Bader is that he may not be a "bargain" for anyone at this point.
Philadelphia acquired Bader from the Minnesota Twins at the trade deadline over the summer and watched as he helped propel the Phillies to an NL East division title.
In 50 games with Philadelphia, Bader slashed .305/.361/.463 with five home runs and 16 RBI across 194 plate appearances. But is that really who Bader is overall?
The 31-year-old has been in the league since 2017 and has spent time with six different teams, owning a lifetime .247/.313/.401 slash line. Yes, he is a strong defender, but his bat has always been inconsistent, and Bader also has a checkered injury history to boot.
Could the Phillies — who seem to be watching their payroll — really afford to give Bader a rather pricey long-term contract, especially at his age?
Philadelphia has also been rumored to be interested in Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr., although that would have to be a trade, and the White Sox would almost certainly have to pay down the $20 million Robert is owed in 2026.
The Phillies would have comfort in reuniting with Bader seeing how well he handled himself in Philadelphia this past season, but the idea of handing in such a lucrative multi-year pact is where things could get sticky.
All of that being said, the Phillies need to do something, as their outfield is currently among the worst in baseball.