BAY AREA BASEBALL Giants, versatile infielder agree to first multi-year contract given out by Zaidi
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Wilmer Flores (41) makes a catch for an out on a hit by San Francisco Giants’ Kevin Pillar (1) in the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Aug. 26.
After 15 months as the president of baseball operations with the San Francisco Giants, Farhan Zaidi has given out his first multi-year contract.
According to a report from ESPN, the Giants are in agreement on a contract with versatile infielder Wilmer Flores for a contract that will last beyond the 2020 season.
At this point, the specifics of the deal remain unclear, but it’s clear the Giants targeted Flores for his ability to play all over the infield and hit left-handed pitching.
Flores, 28, spent the first six seasons of his major league career with the Mets before tormenting the Giants as a member of the Diamondbacks last year. Flores hit a career-high .317 with an .848 OPS in 89 games and was at his best against lefties.
In 109 plate appearances against southpaws last year, Flores hit .337 with a .982 OPS.
Flores has played between 135 and 158 games at all four positions in the infield in his career, but he spent most of his time at second base last season. As a member of the Giants, Flores will likely receive most of his opportunities on the right side of the infield as he could form a platoon with first baseman Brandon Belt.
Flores’ best career games have come against the Giants as the eighth-year veteran has hit .387 with a 1.078 OPS in 37 games. The Venezuela native has also proven he can hit at Oracle Park as he has a career .349 average (15-for-43) with a .512 slugging percentage in San Francisco.