Yankees lose Harrison Bader to Reds on waiver claim
DETROIT – Harrison Bader is going from last place in the AL East to the National League Central and wild card race.
The center fielder was claimed off waivers Thursday by the Reds, ending his Yankees tenure and giving him a chance to go chase the playoffs in Cincinnati.
The Reds will take on the roughly $800,000 that Bader, a pending free agent, is owed the rest of the season, while the Yankees open up center field for top prospect Jasson Dominguez to make his major league debut Friday in Houston.
Bader will bring his terrific defense in center field to the Reds, albeit with an inconsistent bat.
The Bronxville native was still in the Yankees clubhouse Thursday morning at Comerica Park but knew he was likely headed elsewhere soon, set to say his goodbyes before his now-former teammates took the field against the Tigers.
“It’s tough,” Aaron Judge said. “Bader’s a good friend of mine. We’ve grown to have a great relationship these past two years. Seeing what type of worker he is, seeing the work he put in this offseason, the work he puts in throughout the season, especially going into the free agent year, he just wants to win.
“He wants to win a World Series. So, I wish him the best.”
Bader had his share of highs and lows in pinstripes.
He arrived from the Cardinals at last year’s trade deadline for Jordan Montgomery in a walking boot, with plantar fasciitis delaying his Yankees debut until September.
But he made a splash in October, clubbing five home runs in nine playoff games.
This season, Bader landed on the IL twice for a strained oblique and a strained hamstring.
When healthy, he provided lockdown defense in center field but hit just .240 with a .643 OPS and 17 steals in 84 games.
He joins a Reds team that entered Thursday one game back of the Giants for the third wild card spot and six games behind the Brewers in the NL Central.
The Reds reportedly also claimed outfielder Hunter Renfroe.
