The 30-year-old's skills are in hot demand and she will miss a good chunk of the domestic season to play in the Australian Big Bash League (BBL).
The Sparks had to make do without the New Zealand captain for part of the campaign last season and showed they could win games without their star.
But the team is always a lot stronger with Bates listed at the top of the innings. And the prolific right-hander has mixed feelings about missing so much of that campaign.
She debuted for the Sparks as a 15-year-old schoolgirl and has gone on to score more runs (4162 at 45.73) and take more wickets (108 at 31.81) for the team than any other player. She has also led the team to two titles.
''It is hard because I've been involved with the Sparks for such a long time and that used to be all the cricket I would get,'' she said.
''But now with the overseas competitions you have to make some choices.
''And it is hard when you start the season and then leave the team.''
Bates is available for the opening two rounds of games but will miss the next three rounds. The opportunity to play a full season for the Adelaide Strikers is an exciting and challenging opportunity. And, well, it pays.
''I guess it is kind of a selfish decision. But the older I get the more I have to make of these opportunities. But ideally I would be able to do both.''
The BBL will strip the New Zealand league of about a dozen players and Bates felt that would undermine the competition.
''That is going to affect the standard but last year ... we saw other players step up so it does provide opportunities for some of the younger players.''
The Sparks open their season at Melville Park this afternoon with a twenty20 match against Auckland followed by two one-dayers at the same venue.
Last season the Sparks snuck into the final of the twenty20 competition and upset Canterbury to win the title.
Canterbury shapes as one of the teams to beat again but Auckland has a strong squad and Wellington can be a dangerous side as well.
The Sparks have traditionally relied on the White Ferns trio of Bates, Katey Martin and Leigh Kasperek to carry them through games.
But former international spinner Morna Nielsen and English quick Beth Langston are expected to have a positive impact.
Kate Heffernan played a starring role in the twenty20 final last season with four for 21 and it will be interesting to see how she performs in her second year in the squad.
She is available for the first two days but has study commitments and will miss the one-dayer on Sunday. She will be replaced in the side by Emma Black.
Kate's twin sister, Georgia Heffernan, has an ankle complaint and will not be available for the early rounds, while Bella James had surgery on her knee and hopes to make her playing return in the national under-21 tournament in mid December.
