Harrison Bader on why the Giants are ‘a perfect fit’ for him

If you thought the San Francisco Giants and Harrison Bader seemed like a perfect fit, you aren’t alone.

Bader, a slick-fielding center fielder who also had a career year at the plate in 2025, inked a two-year, $20.5 million deal to join a Giants lineup that was lacking an everyday center fielder.

Shortly following the news, Bader joined The Show podcast with MLB insiders Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman to share his thoughts on his new squad.

“Well, first and foremost, the opportunity. You know, all you can do in this game is just work to set yourself up for the best opportunity possible,” Bader said. “Now, I’ve always wanted to play as many games, have as many bats as possible, be on a winning team.

“The Giants cannot be a more perfect fit for me. I’m just very excited. You know, I love playing with superstars. They’ve got a lot of really, really talented players.”

Harrison Bader stops by to tell us why he agreed to a Giants deal right after he agreed. In this special episode, we talk revamped Mets in wide-ranging interview with Carlos Mendoza

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— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 27, 2026

More on Harrison Bader & the SF Giants

Harrison Bader is already familiar with a few players on this current San Francisco Giants roster, namely third baseman Matt Chapman and shortstop Willy Adames.

“I came up with Chapman in the Texas League, in the pro ball part of the minor leagues,” Bader said. “Playing against Willy Adames for a number of years, when I was with the Cardinals, and he was on the Brewers. There’s just a lot of superstars. You know, obviously [Rafael] Devers was a big acquisition for them last year. It’s a fresh front office.”

Bader also has some familiarity with first-year manager Tony Vitello, who, while on the Arkansas Razorbacks’ staff, coached against Bader’s Florida Gators during the 2013-15 seasons.

“It’s obviously a fresh coaching staff. Some SEC ties and Tony Vitello, you know, some familiarity with [Giants bench coach Jayce Tingler] when I was with the Twins last year.

“So it’s always good to be in a new place for those familiar faces, opportunity, the personnel, the players. It just was a perfect fit. And I’m just really, really happy it worked out, because it’s very rare in this game when things work out pretty perfectly. So I’m just very excited.”

More on Harrison Bader’s fit with the San Francisco Giants

If the San Francisco Giants were expecting to compete in a loaded National League West during the 2026 season, making an addition to their outfield was a must.

Franchise legend and team president Buster Posey accomplished that feat this week by signing Gold Glove Award-winning center fielder Harrison Bader to a two-year, $20.5 million deal, one that gives the Giants one of the best defensive outfielders in the game today.

The Giants will now enter the 2026 season with an outfield of Bader, All-Star corner outfielder Heliot Ramos, and former prized free agent signing Jung Hoo Lee, who will now shift to a corner spot–likely right field.

Having star third baseman and designated hitter Rafael Devers in uniform for a full season will provide Posey and first-year manager Tony Vitello with a boost, one that you could easily pencil in for 30+ home runs and over 100 RBI.

What the 2026 SF Giants lineup looks like with Harrison Bader

Upcoming San Francisco Giants & MLB Offseason Schedule

• Early-January – MLB Arbitration Negotiations
• Mid-February – Pitchers & Catchers report for Spring Training
• Saturday, February 21st – @ Seattle Mariners (Spring Training Opener)
• Wednesday, March 25th – vs. New York Yankees – 5:05 PM PT (Opening Day)

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