The New York Yankees completed a true deadline trade on Tuesday, around 6 p.m. ET.
They welcomed centerfielder Harrison Bader from the St. Louis Cardinals, sending away pitcher Jordan Montgomery.
Bader is currently injured, so the Yanks certainly made a gamble.
It was their most curious move of the deadline, as they brought in Frankie Montas to fortify their pitching staff on Monday.
Trading away a pitcher seems odd, to say the least, especially for an injured player.
When healthy, however, Bader makes a huge difference in center field.
He is one of the best defensive players at his position: he won the 2021 National League Gold Glove award.
He is currently dealing with plantar fasciitis, and is in a walking boot.
When Will Bader Be Back In Action?
When will he be back?
Yankees beat writer for USA Today Pete Caldera offered some insight.
“Harrison Bader arrived in Yankees clubhouse this morning, received a locker next to ol’ St. Louis teammate Matt Carpenter, one of the first to greet him. Bader, in a walking boot, expects to play in September,” Caldera tweeted.
Harrison Bader arrived in Yankees clubhouse this morning, received a locker next to ol’ St. Louis teammate Matt Carpenter, one of the first to greet him. Bader, in a walking boot, expects to play in September.
— Pete Caldera (@pcaldera) August 3, 2022
It’s good for Bader to have a familiar face around: he played with Carpenter from 2017 to 2021, the latter’s last year in a Cardinals uniform.
They know each other very well.
Bader will be in his walking boot for one or two weeks, and then will be reevaluated.
If the tests show improvement and complete healing, he will start to ramp up baseball activities.
A return at some point in September feels realistic, and that’s really when the Yankees need him.
They are comfortably pacing the AL East, and made the Bader addition thinking about playoff baseball.
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