Was Bader Better?
In 2022, the St. Louis Cardinals traded their centerfielder, Harrison Bader, to the New York Yankees for one of the Yankees starting pitchers, Jordan Montgomery. The Cardinals reportedly made this trade for multiple reasons. Firstly, the Cardinals felt as though Dylan Carlson was a better long-term option than Harrison Bader, so they could afford to trade away Bader and turn to the younger and cheaper Dylan Carlson. Secondly, the Cardinals' biggest question mark during the first half of the season was their starting pitching, so they felt as though trading for Montgomery would fix this problem; which it certainly did. While Harrison Bader was a fan favorite, he wasn't ownership's favorite when it came to deciding between Harrison Bader and Dylan Carlson. This decision was made easier following Bader's planter fasciitis injury that caused him to miss an extended period of time. During this time, Dylan Carlson showcased his abilities in centerfield and proved t...