The King of Flow Makes His Way to the Bay

The San Francisco Giants have emerged from their offseason slumber with the signing of veteran outfielder Harrison Bader to a two-year, $20.5 million deal.

(AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Bader, 31, was originally a Cardinals farmhand who paved his MLB pathway with diving catches and incredulous defense in center field. The veteran is joining the Giants after his best season as a Major Leaguer. In 2025, Bader posted a 117 OPS+ and smacked 17 home runs. That kind of offensive production, paired with his elite tools in the outfield, can be hard to come by.

From the outside looking in, some fans were puzzled by the addition of Bader to an already crowded Giants outfield. Jung Hoo Lee, Heliot Ramos, Drew Gilbert, and Bryce Eldridge are all options to patrol the cavernous lengths of Oracle Park. Surprisingly, Hoo Lee was an abysmal fielder in 2025, amounting to -5 outs above average in what wasn’t even a full season of work. Bader adds defensive stability to an outfield full of offensive weapons. The presence of a defensive magician in centerfield often provides the corner spots with some leeway, in turn improving the defense of the outfield as a whole.

Bader’s underlying data suggests he may be due for some regression offensively, but the defense isn’t going anywhere. His bat speed is nothing to scoff at, allowing him to make fairly hard contact when he does connect. Bader’s ability to put the ball in play is well-endowed. This is demonstrated by his xBA of .277, which ranked in the 90th percentile of all players. All power metrics point toward a downturn in home run production, but if the veteran can hit between .260 and .280 and walk at a league-average rate, his combination of value on both sides of the baseball should be well worth the money he commands.

The Giants' front office wanted certainty at a defensively prominent position, and they’ve added that in Bader. President of Baseball Operations, Buster Posey, knows all too well how important it is to have defensive value on a winning ball club. With this addition, expect the Giants to not only improve in centerfield, but also in both corners. 

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