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Phillies got a trade deadline steal the Reds should’ve jumped on

This would've been nice.
ByAbigail Miskowiec|
Aug 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Harrison Bader (2) reacts after hitting a 3-run home run during the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Aug 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Harrison Bader (2) reacts after hitting a 3-run home run during the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Reds’ quest for a power bat at last week's MLB trade deadline came to a somewhat unsatisfying end when they traded for Miguel Andujar from the A’s. The veteran outfielder gives the Reds some good bat-to-ball skills, but he lacks the power stroke that Cincinnati really needs. To add insult to injury, the Reds could have snagged a more powerful bat at a lower price point.

To get Andujar, the Reds traded right-handed pitcher Kenya Huggins, their 22nd-ranked prospect according to MLB.com. Even though Huggins’ development was moving at a fairly slow pace, parting with a prospect in the lower ranks of the system, where many top-flight arms like Ty Floyd are dealing with injury, thins the Reds’ depth. With hindsight, the Reds could have had outfielder Harrison Bader, a more impactful player, on a budget.

Bader moved from the Minnesota Twins to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for two prospects. Yes, that means the Reds could have risked two prospects where they only traded one, but the duo that Philadelphia gave up ranked 52nd and 85th among traded prospects according to FanGraphs. Huggins ranked 23rd. In essence, the Phillies got a premium defender with base-stealing capabilities and a 69% barrel rate on a budget.

The Reds should be kicking themselves for missing out on Harrison Bader

The Phillies also have the potential to retain Bader for next year. He has a $10 million mutual option for the 2026 season. Bader (making $6.25 million this season) is already more expensive than Andujar, who is on a $3 million, one-year deal, but with Nick Martinez’s $21.05 million salary coming off the books this offseason, paying Bader for 2026 would be well within the realm of possibility.

The selling point of Andujar’s acquisition was his ability to hit left-handed pitching. The Reds had the third-worst batting average (.220) and fourth-worst slugging (.348) against southpaws heading into August. Andujar’s jaw-dropping line against lefties is .413/.449/.565.

Bader’s split isn’t nearly that good, but his balanced approach against righties and lefties and his five outs above average (OAA) would be just as beneficial for a Reds team making a playoff push. Ultimately, the Reds’ front office may well be kicking itself for missing out on the better outfielder available at the deadline.

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