The contract contains incentives that could make it worth $21 million.<\/p>\n
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\u201cYou know, all you can do in this game is just work to set yourself up for the best opportunity possible,\u201d he told Heyman and co-host Joel Sherman and on The Post\u2019s \u201cThe Show\u201d podcast<\/a> on Monday. \u201cYou know, I\u2019ve always wanted to play as many games, have as many bats as possible, be on a winning team.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Giants could not be more perfect fit for me. So, just I\u2019m just very excited. You know, I love playing with superstars. Got a lot of really really talented players \u2026 It just was a perfect fit.\u201d<\/p>\n Bader posted career-bests in every major offensive category last season, which he split between the Twins and Phillies. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST<\/p>\n Bader, 31, had signed one-year deals in free agency the past two offseasons, but a strong finish to the 2025 campaign powered him to a multi-year pact.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cThis is my third time going through the process of free agency,\u201d he said. \u201cYou really just want to set yourself up for the next opportunity. For me, the past couple years prior to this season it looked like one-year deals, which is fine because when your back is against the wall and you\u2019re really playing for something kind of bigger than just going out there and just playing ball, just you step into a different level of focus.<\/p>\n \u201cYou step into a different level of training, you know, you go to sleep differently. You wake up and go to the yard differently. And I really just kind of wanted to escape that. You know, I didn\u2019t want to be known as a one-year deal kind of mercenary type player. I really wanted to find a home.\u201d<\/p>\n The Gold Glove-winning center fielder started last season with the Twins before being shipped to the Phillies at the trade deadline.<\/a><\/p>\n He helped the Mets\u2019 National League East rivals down the stretch, hitting an outstanding .305\/.361\/.463 with five home runs and 16 RBIs in 50 games.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n In 143 total games last year, the Bronxville, New York, native slashed a solid .277\/.347\/.449 with 17 homers and 54 RBIs (122 wRC+) \u2013 all career-highs.<\/p>\n There were some reports that Bader\u2019s former Big Apple clubs could explore reunions this offseason, but the Yankees\u2019 re-signing of Cody Bellinger and the Mets\u2019 trade for Luis Robert Jr. made that unlikely.<\/p>\n Acquired from the Cardinals in exchange for Jordan Montgomery at the 2022 trade deadline, Bader appeared in 98 total games with the Yankees, hitting a below-average .237 with seven home runs and 46 RBIs.<\/p>\n Harrison Bader singles during the Phillies\u2019 Sept. 8 win against the Mets. Getty Images<\/p>\n While he enjoyed a powerful postseason in 2022<\/a>, a series of injuries hampered Bader during his Bronx tenure.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The Reds claimed Bader <\/a>off waivers in August 2023.<\/p>\n \u201cIt just means so much to me to be a New York City kid, playing in the Bronx for the Yankees,\u201d Bader told reporters<\/a> after being claimed by Cincinnati, leaving the door open for a reunion down the line. \u201cIt\u2019s just really special for a lot of reasons. There\u2019s a lot of good moments and I\u2019m just really excited because regardless of the situation, no one can ever take the fact that I put that uniform on, growing up in that city. It means a lot to me.\u201d<\/p>\n After an underwhelming September with the Reds, Bader joined the Mets in free agency for the 2024 season, posting 12 homers and 51 RBIs alongside his trademark standout defense in the team\u2019s run to the NLCS.<\/p>\n![\"Bader](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/23eedc70cfce3f59b27bc300bd58a828.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Harrison](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/6089db33b4715159128816e96f120404.jpeg\"\/)
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