Harrison Bader’s latest New York homecoming has come to an end.
The former Yankees and Mets center fielder agreed to terms with the Minnesota Twins on a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2026, the Daily News confirmed.
Bader, a native of Bronxville, N.Y., hit .236 with 12 home runs, 51 RBI and 17 stolen bases with the Mets last season. He appeared in 143 games, and started 108, in the regular season.
However, Bader largely came off the bench during the postseason, as the Mets used Tyrone Taylor as their primary center fielder during their NLCS run.
An eight-year MLB veteran, Bader spent his first five-and-a-half seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, with whom he won a Gold Glove in 2021.
The Yankees acquired him ahead of the 2022 trade deadline for left-hander Jordan Montgomery, and Bader quickly endeared himself to the Bronx faithful with five home runs in nine games that postseason.
But as the Yankees fell out of contention in August of 2023, they placed him on waivers, and he was claimed by the Cincinnati Reds.
“It just means so much to me to be a New York City kid playing in the Bronx for the Yankees,” an emotional Bader said at the time.
“Regardless of the situation, no one can ever take the fact that I put that uniform on.”
Bader signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Mets last offseason.
The Mets bolstered their outfield this winter, signing superstar slugger Juan Soto to play right field and acquiring speedy center fielder Jose Siri in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. They also re-signed Jesse Winker, while Taylor, Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte are set to return.
Bader joins a Twins outfield featuring an All-Star center fielder in Byron Buxton, along with Trevor Larnach in left field and Matt Wallner in right.
Manuel Margot remains a free agent after appearing in all three outfield positions in 129 games, including 70 starts, with the Twins last year.