What Does a 31-Year-Old Outfielder Bring to the Giants
At long last, the San Francisco Giants have secured the outfield upgrade they have been searching for. While the Giants did not heavily pursue top free agents, such as Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, they are investing in a proven option. On January 26th, it was reported that 31-year-old outfielder Harrison Bader agreed to a two-year contract with the team. Bringing Bader aboard makes perfect sense and could be exactly what the Giants need.
Since spending the beginning of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, Bader has bounced around the league with several different teams, including the New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, and Philadelphia Phillies. Moving around the league speaks to his value as an all-around contributor who can thrive in various environments. During the 2025 season, in which he split time between the Twins and Phillies, the 31-year-old outfielder had a .277 batting average, 17 home runs, 54 runs batted in, and 11 stolen bases. Additionally, he has playoff experience from his time with the Cardinals, Yankees, Mets, and Phillies.
With Bader, the Giants are getting a former Gold Glove Award winner who can play all three outfield positions. It could be tempting to have the newly acquired Bader take over center field duties, but the Giants will probably give Jung Hoo Lee at least one more chance to prove he can handle all the responsibilities and show he can be a star defensively. Therefore, though Bader has played center for most of his career, the Giants may slot him in right field. If he does end up in right field, the 31-year-old will take on one of the most daunting defensive tasks in the MLB, patrolling the grounds of Triples Alley and the 24-foot high wall at Oracle Park. He will likely work alongside Drew Gilbert, who bats from the left side, to round out the outfield. Bader also has plenty of value off the field. It seems the 31-year-old outfielder has a similar demeanor and joy for the game as his possible right field partner, Gilbert. The two should pair up well in the clubhouse and add to what other clubhouse leaders, Willy Adames and Matt Chapman, have established.
