"Weeks before spring training, they signed center fielder Harrison Bader to a two-year, $20.5 million deal, then moved Jung Hoo Lee to right field. Bader isn't in the same class of free agent as Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger, but he improves an outfield defense that was among the worst in the majors. And if Lee and Heliot Ramos can take leaps forward, this outfield could emerge as one of the better units in the National League."
"That caliber of defender was needed after San Francisco's outfielders finished last in the majors in OAA and 28th in defensive runs saved. "He's a very active thinker, and he is very self-confident," said manager Tony Vitello. "A lot of it it's because he's put in time to think about it. He's got a lot of conviction to what he believe. ... You want a quarterback in center, but all three guys got to kind of dance together.""
San Francisco entered the offseason needing starting pitchers, relievers and an outfielder after trading Mike Yastrzemski at the deadline. The team cycled through options in August and September with underwhelming production. The 40-man roster briefly contained ten outfielders before the club acquired Joey Wiemer and Justin Dean and later designated them for assignment; Marco Luciano was lost on waivers and Wade Meckler was DFA'd. Weeks before spring training, the Giants signed center fielder Harrison Bader to a two-year, $20.5 million deal and moved Jung Hoo Lee to right field. Bader's elite defensive metrics since 2017 address last season's poor OAA and defensive runs saved rankings. If Lee and Heliot Ramos improve, the outfield could become a National League strength.
Read at The Mercury News
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