LAS VEGAS — President of baseball operations Buster Posey told reporters at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas that the Giants and Major League Baseball will soon release a joint statement regarding outfielder Harrison Bader, who injured himself in a late-night scooter crash last season.
“He’ll be in the organization,” Posey said of Bader, who signed a two-year, $20.5 million deal in January and appeared in just 30 games and hit .170.
Bader was involved in a non-life-threatening scooter collision shortly after 2 a.m. on Sunday, July 26, in San Francisco’s Marina District, further damaging the left foot he had been rehabbing. The Giants suspended Bader’s payment shortly afterward.
The 32-year-old is owed $10 million next season, and if the Giants released Bader now, they’d have to pay his entire salary. The Giants still have the option of trading Bader as well.
“I think Bader’s in a really good spot headspace-wise with how motivated he is for next year,” manager Tony Vitello told this news organization. “I think he’s intentionally not doing things full speed yet because he wants to continue to work and ramp up, kind of an educated incline to get ready for the season. But he’s moving around close to full speed.”
Including Bader, the Giants currently have eight outfielders on their 40-man roster (nine with Casey Schmitt, a primary infielder who played 30 games in left field). In Bader’s absence, Jonah Cox and Drew Gilbert formed a fine platoon in center field, which is Bader’s primary position. If Bader is still on the roster come spring training, his playing time is far from guaranteed.
“The way I’d say he fits in is he’s going to have to go out and play — and play well — to get playing time,” Posey said.