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Phillies Outfielder Declines Mutual Option, Enters Free Agency

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports | By Ben Rosen | Last updated Nov 4, 2025 9:25 PM ET

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Harrison Bader has declined his side of the mutual option on his contract, the team announced on Tuesday. The mutual option was for $10 million. Bader is coming off a career year, so it makes complete sense that he would opt out. According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, the Phillies would like to re-sign Bader. This season, the 31-year-old outfielder had a .277/.347/.449 line with career highs of 17 home runs and 54 RBI in 146 games. Bader recorded a career best 122 wRC+ along with a career best .359 BABIP this season. The Phillies acquired him from the Minnesota Twins at the trade deadline, after he played 96 games with Minnesota.

Harrison Bader Rejects Mutual Option with Phillies

OF Harrison Bader declined his portion of his mutual option for 2026 and will become a free agent.

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) November 5, 2025

With the Phillies this season, Bader had a .305/.361/.463 line with five home runs and 16 RBI in 50 games. He also recorded a 129 wRC+ and a .415 BABIP after the trade. Bader did see his strikeout rate increase from 26.4% with the Twins to 28.4% with the Phillies. Additionally, he saw his walk rate decrease from 8.8% with the Twins to 6.2% with the Phillies. Bader exclusively played center field for the Phillies, whereas with the Twins, he primarily played left field with appearances in center field and right field. Spotrac projects that Bader will receive a 2-year, $2o million contract.

Impact on Offseason Plans

Justin Crawford is widely expected to be on the Phillies’ 2026 Opening Day roster. Crawford has experience playing both left field and center field. Bader potentially leaving in free agency creates an opening for Crawford to be the Phillies’ everyday center fielder in 2026. The Phillies also have Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and Ranger Suárez as free agents. It will be virtually impossible to keep all of them, given payroll considerations. Keeping Schwarber and Realmuto is the Phillies’ top priority in free agency. The center field market lacks quality options, which makes it hard to let Bader walk.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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