The Reds announced a series of roster moves today, with left-hander Alex Young reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list and right-hander Connor Phillips selected to the roster. In corresponding moves, outfielder Harrison Bader was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right groin strain while righty Carson Spiers was optioned to Triple-A. To open a 40-man spot for Phillips, righty Graham Ashcraft was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
It’s unclear when or how Bader sustained his injury. He started yesterday’s game and made three trips to the plate and was replaced in the seventh inning. TJ Friedl batted for left fielder Nick Senzel that inning and then took over in center, with Will Benson taking Bader’s spot in the order and taking over in left. In addition to the unknowns of when the issue cropped up, the severity isn’t clear either. But with just two weeks left in the season, it’s possible Bader’s season is in jeopardy.
Regardless, it’s an unfortunate blow for the Reds and Bader personally. The club claimed him off waivers from the Yankees at the end of August, adding about $783K in salary to their books just have one month of his services. He hasn’t been having a good year at the plate, now hitting just .232/.274/.348 between the two clubs, but still provides value thanks to his speed and defense. He has 20 stolen bases on the year, despite playing just 98 games, while continuing to get great reviews for his glovework in the outfield.
The Reds will now proceed without Bader for at least the next 10 days, with Friedl likely taking on most of the center field playing time as Benson, Senzel, Nick Martini and Hunter Renfroe share the corners. The club is sitting on a record of 78-73, bunched into an extremely tight National League Wild Card race that seems destined to come down to the wire.
Bader is an impending free agent and will head into the open market at an inopportune time, given his slumping offensive production and mounting injury concerns. He hit .258/.327/.457 over 2020 and 2021 for a wRC+ of 110 but slipped to .250/.294/.356 and a wRC+ of 85 last year, while his aforementioned performance this year amounts to a wRC+ of just 70.
Meanwhile, he’s made trips to the IL over the past three years due to a right rib hairline fracture, right foot plantar fasciitis, a left oblique strain, a right hamstring strain and now this groin strain. He was only able to play 103 games in 2021, 86 last year and 98 so far this year. If he heals up and the Reds make the postseason, perhaps he has time to change the narrative. But for now, it seems he will be trying to market himself at a time when prospective clubs will have various concerns about his long-term projections.
Phillips, 22, came up to the big leagues earlier this month as a COVID replacement. He made two starts with an earned run average of 8.31 before being returned to the minors and has now had his contract selected in the more traditional fashion. In 105 innings in the minors this year, he has a 3.86 ERA, striking out 33.3% of opponents but also walking 12.3%. He’ll jump into a Cincinnati rotation that has been beset by various injuries this year, with each of Ashcraft, Justin Dunn, Vladimir Gutierrez, Nick Lodolo and Connor Overton currently on the 60-day IL. That leaves them with Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, Brandon Williamson, Ben Lively and Phillips in the rotation as they make their final postseason push.
As for Ashcraft, it was reported over the weekend that he will require season-ending toe surgery, making this transfer an inevitable formality.
Is Bader EVER healthy
And just after MLBTR posted the article about the upcoming CF FA class in which I commented that any team that signs Bader better be sure they have a solid Plan B. Is this his third or fourth trip to the IL this year? I’ve lost track.
I think this his third IL stint. Dude’s made out of glass…
Yeah I guess my plan for the Cubs to sign Bader was flawed in the most stupid way. While it’s a race to see who’s muscles are weaker, Madrigals Hammy’s or Baders groin, Well I guess it answers one question anyway. Cubs CF platoon next year should be Canario and PCA. I apologize for my previous idea to sign Bader and platoon him with PCA. Not the first bad idea I’ve had this year sadly. Sigh
porcelain… like the sh#$ers in Yankee stadium.
Maybe Nicky No Hammy and Bader can get like a UCL operation for their muscles. Like take a corpses Hammy and groin and lengthen them out like Tommy John. If I were them I’d look into it anyway.
Generally he is for a few weeks each time he comes off the IL 🙂
Should have placed Bader on the IL yesterday. His failure to advance Votto to 3rd (with no outs in the 7th) and subsequent K from EDLC’s AB left Bell with little choice but to send Spiers back out there and run out the string. Had Votto scored, making it a 1 run game, I believe Bell would have used the bullpen to try and hold the Mets to 4 runs. Reds did not even have Maile available to pitch because of a hand contusion. Doubt we see Bader in a Reds uniform again.
Spiers had no reason being out there as long as he was. He obviously didn’t have it when he was still in the 40 plus pitch range.
Of course, if they hadn’t burned the bullpen out the last several days, it would not have been a problem. That’s what happens when you have months of TBD starters.
I honestly don’t know how some people are so injury prone. With all the lower body injuries Bader has had, I hope he’s starts working on his flexibility/mobility. It is crazy how often he gets hurt. Focus less on strength/speed and focus more on being nimble and resilient… bc if you aren’t healthy, you’re strength and speed won’t do anything for you.
Seems like the Cards are becoming the NL version of the A’s…..the guys they ship out on trades just can’t stay healthy….Bader can’t seem to use any of that “speed” element of his game without getting hurt….buyer beware!
He had no interest in leaving the Yankees, they kicked him out.
Totally checked out when he went to the Reds, so bad that they couldn’t even play him.
ChangedName – Yankees didn’t kick him out they put him on waivers. If the Reds hadn’t picked him up he would still be with the Yankees. Get your facts straight stop worrying about changing your name
Guys that are injury prone in their 20’s are not even worth signing into their 30’s.
Bader is the Dollar Store Byron Buxton
At Buxton was smart enough to secure a deal with Minnesota, Bader is going to have a tough time getting even a major league deal next season…
Bader will get a 1 year (prove it) major league deal most likely
Off to the far east.
Lolol
“Hey Harrison, I’m happy to tell you as your agent that the Giants just called and want to offer you a multi year deal!”
Bader: That’s great, I love the Bay Area!”
“Well…it’s actually the Yomiuri Giants. Get ready to learn Japanese buddy!”
Sounds like an old Tom Selleck movie lol.
I remember being upset when Bryce Harper couldn’t stay healthy in Washington. He finally learned how to play just a bit more under control and stay on the field(play at 90% speed), something that Bader and Buxton have never learned to do. Of course, this was well before Bryce had unrelated Tommy John issues.
At least Phillips is a better TBD than most, though had they actually gotten starter(s) at the deadline, he would still be in Louisville for more seasoning.
added 2 OF and no pitching.wasted at bats for younger players and 2 roster spots….now eat 2 million…compile a list of P that were here and we let walk. Miley, Hoffman, Gausman….feel free to add to the the list!
suxa## front office
Flush… don’t for get to. The plumbers at Yankee stadium have had a decade+ of job security. Another Jacob Ellsbury and Donaldson. The Reds must of had the same plumber referral. Moosuxass..really broke the crapper. Now Masterbader!
Cardinals and Yankee fans alike are surprised by this news.
What I don’t get is how do scouts who track how players are doing in college ball overlook their injury history? Or is that the player doesn’t start getting injured until reaching the big league?
Either way, think about all the ruined career greats that we could’ve seen but never panned out due to the injury bug
@Yanks2 above
Using Bader as an example – and I really enjoy watching his defence – but do you think a 0.290 hitter would injure themselves fewer than a 0.240 hitter.
My point being somebody like Bader feels they have to provide more, and risk themselves more to try and make that 50 or so points with extra defence?
Point might be moot in NYY case because Judge seems to be willing to smash himself to pieces in defence. And similarly to previous, I really enjoy watching Judge give every ounce of effort….
I suppose someone will sign him because f his defensive metrics, his speed, and because he is “gritty”. Whoever that is will ignore the fact that Bader is neither good nor reliably available. He is a late inning defensive replacement and pinch runner who has averaged 90 games per season.
Good to see the Reds got Bader as advertised.
I hope Hunter Greene was watching Connor Phillips pitch instead of fooling around. In his third start, the young man showed how to pitch well and still give them innings.
Well at least Bader is a great mouthguard chewer.