SF Giants: Three Reasons Trevor Bauer Would Choose San Francisco

Three Reasons Trevor Bauer Would Choose The SF Giants
2. Home-Field Ballpark

For years, Oracle Park has been known as one of the more pitcher-friendly ballparks in baseball. Over the past decade, we have seen plenty of Giants hitters launch baseballs over 400 feet only to fall just shy of the warning track in right field for an out. The Giants have slightly adjusted the ballpark dimensions, but the park remains one of the most favorable to pitchers in the league.

Despite some recent hitter-friendly changes, the unforgiving wind off of the Bay and cold gametime temperatures depress the flight of the ball, and that bodes well for pitchers. The ballpark has consistently scared hitters away from signing with San Francisco, but it’s been one of the biggest selling points for free-agent pitchers.

Following a trade that sent him to the Cincinnati Reds in 2019, Bauer’s home ballpark, the Great American Ballpark, is one of the more hitter-friendly stadiums in baseball. To his credit, the right-handed hurler posted a sterling 2.18 ERA in five games at home in 2020. Still, Bauer is well aware of the science of baseball, should understand the benefits.

Particularly if Bauer is targetting a shorter-term deal this offseason, he will be trying to position himself for another free-agency market shortly. Playing those seasons at Oracle Park would be one of the best ways to ensure his future market is not suppressed by bad-luck from playing in particularly favorable hitting environments.

The ballpark does not make the pitcher, but what if you could improve your circumstances? That is a decision Bauer will have to consider, and one that might prove to be a nice selling point for San Francisco this offseason.