Giants nab career-best Bader, leaving Angels scrambling. Their outfield needs a star after missing this Gold Glove talent.
The Los Angeles Angels have one fewer option to fill their outfield after free agent center fielder Harrison Bader signed a reported two-year, $20.5 million deal with the San Francisco Giants on Monday. Bader’s value on both defense and at the plate in 2025 would have fit perfectly into the Angels’ roster, but it’s back to the drawing board for general manager Perry Minasian and the Halos.
Bader is coming off his best season at the plate in his career during his time split between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies. At 31 years old, Bader finished with an OPS just a hair under .800 while hitting a career-high 17 home runs, driving in a career-high 54 runs, and a career-high 124 hits.
While his offensive production alone would have been a great addition for the Angels, the real prize would have been Bader’s glove. He already has a Gold Glove award in his trophy case from 2021, and consistently finishes each season as one of the best defensive outfielders in the game.
Bader played 142 games in the outfield in 2025, with the majority of appearances being in center. He recorded seven outs above average, enough to finish in the 92nd percentile in range. To go with his defensive instincts and athleticism, Bader has a great arm to go with it. His arm strength puts him near the top of the league among outfielders.
The Angels could have used Bader’s play on both sides of the ball in 2026, especially with teh defensive troubles in the outfield last season. They're still left without a reliable, everyday center fielder even after acquiring Josh Lowe in a trade earlier this month. For now, the Halos’ outfield will be filled by some combination of Lowe, Jo Adell, Jorge Soler, Bryce Teodosio, and possibly Mike Trout.
Adell and Trout were productive at the plate last season, but Trout began a new phase in his career, mostly appearing as a designated hitter. Soler saw a down year at the plate and isn’t an ideal defender by any means, while Teodosio has yet to prove himself as an everyday player with his 53 OPS+ last season.
There are still some options left for the Angels as they look to acquire some help in their outfield, however. Austin Hays and Miguel Andujar are both names still available in free agency that could help bring some relief to the outfield in Anaheim.
The Angels theoretically have money to spend after restructuring Anthony Rendon’s contract, but the front office has yet to make use of the sudden financial flexibility. After missing out on Bader, Angels fans are holding onto hope that the higher-ups have another plan in place.