Harrison Bader is the best defender in the Major League. But his deadline-day arrival is a subject of intense debate. Many criticize the deal as a blunder after Jordan Montgomery has become a game-winner for the Cardinals while Bader is yet to debut for his new team. He is currently on the injured list.
While the Yankees struggle to fend off criticism over the trade, Harrison Bader prefers to shut down any question over it.
The New York native has blocked out all of the talks that the Yankees made a mistake when they traded Jordan Montgomery to the Cardinals to get him. Bader has plantar fasciitis in his right foot and hasn’t put on the pinstripes yet. On the other hand, Montgomery has been doing great on the mound for the Cardinals, who are going to make the playoffs.
During a chat, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic asked the player his opinion on the matter and how he could assure fans that the trade was not unfair as they thought.
Harrison Bader answered:
“Is that what they’re saying? I haven’t seen that. Stuff like that is not going to help my rehab go any faster. And in a time when you’re trying to get back, as much as it is physical, there is an element to the subconscious. It’s a career. It’s important. I’m not taking my time, not going slowly by any means. We’re going to do it right.”
The Yankees thought “Tots” would help them improve their defense in center field, so they took a chance on him even though it would be weeks or months before he could play. The central defender is now getting better at Double-A, and his debut with the Yankees is getting closer.
So far, Harrison Bader is 3-for-11 with a home run for the Somerset Patriots in three games. His first game with the Yankees was supposed to be next Tuesday when they play the Pirates at home.
The 29-year-old player told Rosenthal:
“The [Yankees] trainers did an incredible job keeping my mind going, allowing me to get some frustration out talking about it. We did a really good job every single day, staying focused, staying super disciplined. You fast forward to now, I’ve got a serious stretch ahead of me where we could do some real damage, on a team that is contending for a World Series. Which is awesome. For some time there, I thought my season might be lost. The pain was pretty intense. To be in this position is just great. I’m just grateful. I really am.”
Even though they have been in a slump for quite some time, the Yankees are currently leading the American League East by six games, so the arrival of Bader is sure to generate excitement in The Bronx.
Andrew Benintendi, another important outfielder the Yankees got in a trade before the deadline, is out with a wrist injury that could keep him out for the rest of the season. Aaron Hicks has had a terrible season, and once Harrison Bader is healthy, he will probably be sent back to the bench full-time.
Bader said, “I’m going out there to be an all-around player.” “I didn’t need it at all, but being traded makes you realize a lot of things. It sets a lot of things on fire. It really sparked something in me. I couldn’t be happier about being able to write my own story in a new place.
Do you think Harrison Bader can better Jordan Montgomery’s form in St. Louis? Can he assure fans with his action and prove that the deal wasn’t a bad one?
