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By going to the Giants, Bader lines up everyday playing time rather than platoon work, largely because of his defensive value. Heliot Ramos and Jung Hoo Lee were simply bad in the pasture as the team’s most-used outfielders in left and center. Luis Matos has been bad in all three of his MLB seasons. Late-season call-ups Drew Gilbert and Grant McCray provided younger legs and no bats. Bader joins the team as, by far, its best defensive outfielder, even if you bake in some age-related decline at 32. I’m more concerned about his bat: Bader posted sub-.300 OBPs from ’22 through ’24, and while a .372 BABIP against northpaws hid it last year, he’s long been more a platoon player, often dominated by right-handed pitching, than an everyday guy.
Signing Harrison Bader to be the fourth outfielder on a team with a lefty-heavy outfield and at least one spot occupied by a poor glove man, that’s sharp. Signing Harrison Bader to be your everyday center fielder because at 32 he’ll be the best center fielder on the team...that’s a very 81-81 move. The Giants have been within a couple games of .500 for four straight seasons, exactly .500 twice, and that’s likely their ceiling again.
