Giants, Bader nearing resolution of contract dispute over July scooter crash
This browser does not support the video element.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Harrison Bader saga is close to coming to an end for the Giants.
President of baseball operations Buster Posey told reporters at the General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas on Tuesday that a joint statement will be released soon addressing the situation with Bader, whose pay was suspended on July 31 after he was involved in a late-night scooter accident in San Francisco’s Marina District.
“Nothing real juicy, not to get your hopes up,” Posey said. “He’ll be in the organization.”
Bader’s future with the Giants had been unclear entering the offseason. The 32-year-old outfielder joined San Francisco on a two-year, $20.5 million deal in January, but he batted only .170 over 30 games while missing time with hamstring and foot injuries this year.
He landed on the injured list with left plantar fasciitis on May 30 and was scheduled to fly to Indianapolis to see a foot and ankle specialist the day after he reportedly crashed his scooter into the back of a San Francisco Fire Department fire engine.
The collision further damaged Bader’s injured left foot, prompting the Giants to launch an investigation into the incident. Bader is owed $10 million in 2027, though an earlier statement from the Giants indicated that they planned to suspend payment on his salary “until he is able to resume performing services for the Club.”
This browser does not support the video element.
According to the Giants’ most recent medical update, Bader was working on his running and baseball progressions in late September and on track to be fully cleared by Spring Training.
Even if he remains under contract with the Giants next season, Posey made it clear that Bader will have to earn back his starting spot in center field. The Giants gave plenty of playing time to other young outfielders in Bader’s absence, including Jonah Cox and Drew Gilbert, both of whom could be candidates to platoon in center in 2027.
“The way I’d say [Bader] fits in is he’s going to have to go out and play -- and play well -- to get playing time,” Posey said.
This browser does not support the video element.
More coaching staff changes
The Giants have yet to finalize manager Tony Vitello’s coaching staff, but Posey shared a few updates on the group on Tuesday.
Longtime staffer Taira Uematsu will shift from quality control coach to first-base coach, making him the first Japanese-born base coach in the Majors. Shane Robinson, who coached first base in 2026, was reassigned to the Minors and will serve as a roving outfield coordinator.
The Giants are close to hiring a new hitting coach to replace Hunter Mense, who left for the Royals last week, but Posey said the club is still working on some “pass-through stuff to get it done.”
Assistant hitting coach Oscar Bernard, infield coach Ron Washington and third-base coach Gary Pettis will be back, though the Giants are currently evaluating the catching coach position, which was held by Alex Burg this year.
Pitching coach Justin Meccage and bullpen coach Jesse Chavez will also reprise their roles on the pitching side, but Christian Wonders will switch from assistant pitching coach to director of pitching on the Minor League side. The Giants are also changing Frank Anderson’s title from director of Major League Pitching to assistant pitching coach.
MLB.com’s Martín Gallegos contributed reporting from Las Vegas.