{"id":2198884,"date":"2025-12-14T20:57:42","date_gmt":"2025-12-14T20:57:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2198884"},"modified":"2025-12-14T20:57:42","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T20:57:42","slug":"is-the-market-setting-up-for-harrison-bader-to-return-to-the-phillies-on-pattison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/is-the-market-setting-up-for-harrison-bader-to-return-to-the-phillies-on-pattison\/","title":{"rendered":"Is the market setting up for Harrison Bader to return to the Phillies? – On Pattison"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n Sep 13, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Harrison Bader (2) slides past the tag attempt of Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) for a run during the third inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Bill Streicher<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The Kansas City Royals \u2014 who have previously been rumored to have interest in both Harrison Bader and Nick Castellanos \u2014 may now be set in the outfield without acquiring either of the 2025 Phillies.<\/p>\n

Saturday, the Royals completed a rather shocking trade with the Brewers, sending left-handed reliever Angel Zerpa to Milwaukee to acquire both outfielder Isaac Collins and righty reliever Nick Mears.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For the purposes of this story, acquiring Collins is the most relevant part. Collins finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting this past season, hitting .263 with nine home runs, 54 RBIs, 57 walks, a .779 OPS and five outs above average in left field. Though he was an older rookie at 27, that means Collins isn’t even yet arbitration eligible, and won’t be able to become a free agent until after the 2030 season. Presumably, president of baseball operations J.J. Picollo views him as the long-term starting left fielder for the Royals.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Additionally, the Royals inked veteran Lane Thomas to a one-year\/$5.25 million deal in free agency earlier this week, a pact that reportedly includes<\/a>\u00a0$1 million in incentives. Thomas was limited to just 39 games this past season with the Cleveland Guardians, but Phillies fans are well aware from his time with the Washington Nationals that the 30-year-old can be a productive option at all three outfield positions when healthy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When you factor in former first-round pick Jac Caglianone and glove-first center fielder Kyle Isbel, the Royals \u2014 a team that desperately needed to improve their outfield \u2014 might be finished.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That’s particularly relevant to the Phillies because both Bader, a free agent, and Nick Castellanos \u2014 a trade or release candidate that’s almost certainly played his last game in red pinstripes<\/a> \u2014 previously seemed like potential fits for the Royals.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At the outset of the MLB Winter Meetings, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic<\/em> wrote<\/a> this of Kansas City and Bader:\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Kansas City Royals are mulling a long list of potential upgrades for their outfield. They are not pursuing the most expensive options, Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger. They might also be priced out of the top player on the next tier of free agents, Harrison Bader, who is said to be expecting a three-year deal.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Perhaps we’re reading a little too much into this, but you’re left to wonder if part of the reason this info was put out was because the Royals hoped to talk Bader down to two years before having to pivot elsewhere.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In any event, Rosenthal went on to report that the Royals hoped to add a pair of outfielders, “one through free agency and the other through trade.” Well, if that’s the case, then get the gin and lemon out, because Picollo signed Thomas and traded for Collins.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Castellanos had been linked to the Royals back in the summer, with Jon Heyman of The celebrity.land<\/em> mentioning<\/a> that Kansas City had interest in him prior to the trade deadline. That never led to anything then, and it’s possible teams will view Castellanos more as an DH\/first base option<\/a> this winter after he posted<\/a> minus-11 defensive runs saved and minus-12 outs above average in right field this past season. The Royals, though, were one team entering the offseason that felt like they could be a possible landing spot for Castellanos via trade if the Phillies ate a significant chunk of the $20 million he’s owed in 2026. You can now cross them off the list, leading you to believe this all might end with the two-time All-Star just being released.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Let’s get it back to Bader, who is frankly more relevant at this point.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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