The San Francisco Giants and first baseman Brandon Belt have agreed to a new five-year contract extension that will keep Belt in the Bay Area through the 2021 season.
Alex Pavlovic of CSN Bay Area first reported the two sides agreeing to a new contract, with Pavlovic noting the deal is in the range of Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford's six-year, $75 million deal he signed this past offseason.
ESPN's Buster Olney confirmed the deal.
Belt, who will turn 28 on April 20, has had an erratic career in San Francisco largely due to injuries. He is a strong hitter for average and gets on base at a good clip when healthy, but that's been a problem the past two seasons.
Last year, despite missing 25 games, Belt did set a career high with 18 home runs. His versatility has also helped the Giants, who have started using Buster Posey at first base to preserve his legs while still keeping his bat in the lineup. When Posey plays first, Belt can shift to the outfield.
Rumblings of a potential extension ramped up when Belt's representatives met with Giants general manager Bobby Evans, who detailed those conversations to Pavlovic:
We’re exploring options. There’s no pressure — we have him for two more years. There’s no pressure, but if we have the opportunity, it’d be wise to take advantage of it. We’ll see how it plays out.
We have a fan base here that appreciates him and a club he fits well on, and he’s been a big part of our success.
Belt certainly is one of San Francisco's most important hitters. He finished in the top three in most major offensive categories in 2015, including doubles, homers, walks and slugging percentage.
According to August Fagerstrom of FanGraphs, the Giants were projected to have the seventh-best production at first base thanks in large part to Belt:
A concussion derailed Belt’s 2014 and another one ended his 2015. Belt is supremely talented; his mix of power, speed, and defense from the first-base position is like a really poor man’s Paul Goldschmidt, and even through all the ailments, he’s never failed to produce. Just, please stay away now, concussions. Nobody wants you here.
The Giants are certainly taking a risk on Belt, but not one that's unwarranted. His injuries have lowered his value, at least somewhat, as well as given them a lot of power in negotiations.
Belt is still at an age in which he could reasonably expect to get better. The Giants have shown in the past with extensions for Posey, Madison Bumgarner and Crawford they will take care of their own.
An extension for Belt is the Giants' latest commitment to locking up one of their development success stories. He's been part of two title teams in 2012 and 2014, with a long-term deal giving him ample opportunities to win more before his career is over.
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