Twins sign outfielder Harrison Bader and left-handed pitcher Danny Coulombe
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN ¨C The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have signed outfielder Harrison Bader and left-handed pitcher Danny Coulombe to one-year contracts. Bader¡¯s contract includes a mutual option for 2026.
Bader (pronounced BAY-der), 30, played in 143 games for the New York Mets last season, hitting .236 (95-for-402) with 19 doubles, 12 home runs, 51 RBI, 57 runs scored, 21 walks and 17 stolen bases, setting career highs in games played and RBI. The 2021 National League Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner played 140 games (108 starts) in centerfield for the Mets last season and ranked in the 95th percentile in baseball in outs above average (10), in the 92nd percentile in fielding run value (10) and in the 86th percentile in arm strength (90.1).
The Bronxville, New York native was originally selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round (100th overall) of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft and has played parts of eight major league seasons with the Cardinals (2017-22), New York Yankees (2022-23), Cincinnati Reds (2023) and Mets (2024). In 778 career major league games, he has hit .242 (555-for-2297) with 106 doubles, 13 triples, 71 home runs, 268 RBI, 330 runs scored, 94 stolen bases, a .306 on-base percentage, a .392 slugging percentage and a .698 OPS. The 6-foot, 210-pound Bader was recognized as the MLBPAA Heart & Hustle Award nominee for the Cardinals in 2018.
Coulombe (pronounced KOO-loam), 35, made 33 appearances for the Baltimore Orioles last season, going 1-0 with a 2.12 ERA (29.2 IP, 7 ER), one save, 13 holds, five walks, 32 strikeouts, a 0.67 WHIP and a .147 opponent batting average, missing time on the Injured List from June 9-September 20 with left elbow inflammation. He held right-handed hitters to a .129 batting average, while left-handers posted a .175 average. His 0.67 WHIP, .187 opponent on-base percentage and .452 opponent OPS led all left-handers in baseball (minimum of 25.0 innings pitched). Over the last three seasons, Coulombe has posted a 2.41 ERA (93.1 IP, 25 ER) and a 1.00 WHIP, while holding opponents to a .197 batting average over 104 games. In that span, he ranks second among all lefties in baseball (minimum of 90.0 innings pitched) in ERA, fourth in WHIP and fifth in opponent batting average.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound lefty returns to Minnesota after spending parts of three seasons with the Twins from 2020-22, going 3-2 with a 2.92 ERA (49.1 IP, 16 ER), 19 walks and 45 strikeouts in 41 games (1 start). The St. Louis, Missouri native was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012 and has pitched 10 seasons in the big leagues for the Dodgers, Athletics, Twins and Orioles, going 15-9 with a 3.52 ERA (273.2 IP, 107 ER), three saves, 51 holds, 97 walks and 269 strikeouts in 288 career games (1 start).
Coulombe takes the 40-man roster spot vacated after yesterday¡¯s trade with the Cardinals (Michael Helman). To make room for Bader on the 40-man roster, the Twins have designated right-handed pitcher Ronny Henriquez for release or assignment. Henriquez appeared in 16 games (1 start) for the Twins last season, going 1-1 with a 3.26 ERA (19.1 IP, 7 ER), five walks and 15 strikeouts.
The Twins now have 40 players on their 40-man roster: 22 pitchers, four catchers, five infielders, six outfielders and three utility players.