Giants’ Belt gets five-year, $72.8M extension

San Francisco takes another step to keep core together

Brandon Belt can look across the infield at shortstop Brandon Crawford, to the mound at Madison Bumgarner and behind the plate to Buster Posey, three other homegrown Giants likely to be around for years to come.

That’s a big reason Belt also wants to stay in San Francisco chasing more championships with a core group of like-minded men raised in the Giants’ system.

The 27-year-old first baseman agreed Saturday to a $72.8 million, five-year contract with the Giants that starts in 2017.

“A lot of the great core players are going to be here for a lot of years to come. I think that should excite anybody, just having a chance to win year in and year out,” Belt said. “I think I’ve matured and grown a lot over the past five years or so.

“All of it is due to this organization from the top on down. I have a lot of growing left to do, and I wouldn’t want to do it any other place except for here.”

Belt reached a one-year, $6.2 million agreement in February, and general manager Bobby Evans remained optimistic the sides would reach a long-term deal.

The new contract calls for a $6 million signing bonus, payable next Jan. 15, a $2.8 million salary for 2017 and $16 million annually from 2018 to 2021. Each Nov. 1 starting in 2017, Belt may designate 10 teams he cannot be traded to without his consent.

Belt, who would have been eligible for free agency after the 2017 season, batted .280 with 18 home runs and 68 RBIs last year as the Giants missed the playoffs.

PADRES — San Diego put Opening Day starter Tyson Ross on the 15day disabled list because of inflammation in his right shoulder.

Left-handed reliever Brad Hand, claimed off waivers from Miami last week, reported to the Padres to fill the roster spot.

Ross took the loss on Opening Day against the Dodgers, giving up seven earned runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Fellow right-hander James Shields, moving up a spot in the rotation but pitching on his normal rest, will start today’s series finale at Colorado. He’ll be followed by Andrew Cashner on Monday at Philadelphia.

YANKEES — Nick Swisher is set to rejoin New York on a minor league contract.

Swisher, 35, took batting practice and worked out at first base Saturday at the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa, Florida.

Several team officials were involved in the session. A team spokesman said a deal is expected to be completed.

The infielder/outfielder, who played for the Yankees from 2009 to 2012, asked if he could work out at the complex, and the team said yes.

Swisher would provide depth, especially at first base. Infielder Dustin Ackley, who has limited experience at first, is the backup to Mark Teixeira.

CUBS — Kyle Schwarber says he wouldn’t change a thing about the way he pursued that flyball in the gap. Except how it turned out. On crutches, his voice cracking at times, the young Chicago Cubs slugger said Saturday that he’s already getting ready to play in 2017.

“I look at it as I’ve got a whole year to prepare for a new season,” Schwarber said. “I’m going to be feeling like I’m coming back even better.”

Schwarber’s 2016 season ended just as it was getting started when he tore ligaments in his left knee Thursday in an outfield collision at Arizona.

Schwarber is headed for surgery sometime in the next three weeks.