After spending a record $450 million plus in 2023 only to finish below .500, the Mets approached 2024 with an eye as much on the future as this season. They lost out on the Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes and instead have valued the flexibility that one-year deals offer. Among those to sign one with the Mets: right-handed starter Luis Severino ($13 million), right-handed reliever Jorge Lopez and infielder Joey Wendle ($2 million), and right-handed reliever Michael Tonkin ($1 million). Bader’s deal was first reported by SNY.

Bader, who made $5.2 million last season, was part of a glut of outfielder/designated hitter types who remain on the free agent market, including former All-Stars Teoscar Hernandez, J.D. Martinez, Joc Pederson, Jorge Soler and Justin Turner.