February 12: The Giants have announced the signing, adding that right-hander Reyes Moronta has been transferred to the 60-day injured list to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Moronta underwent shoulder surgery late in the 2019 season and is expected to miss substantial time in 2020.
Flores will earn $3MM in 2020 and 2021, tweets Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. The 2022 club option is valued at $3.5MM and comes with a $250K buyout.
February 4, 7:00pm: Flores’ contract with the Giants is a two-year deal worth more than $6MM guaranteed, tweets MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. The Giants will also have a club option for a third season.
2:40pm: The Giants and free-agent infielder Wilmer Flores have agreed to a multi-year deal, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports (via Twitter). The Giants will need to make a 40-man roster move in order to create space for him.
Wilmer Flores | Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports” width=”200″ height=”300″ />
The 28-year-old Flores spent the 2019 season with the division-rival Diamondbacks but was limited to 89 games by a foot injury that sidelined him from late May until late July. When healthy, Flores turned in a strong .317/.361/.487 batting line with nine home runs and 18 doubles in 285 plate appearances. While most of Flores’ power output came against left-handed pitching (.337/.367/.615), the longtime Mets utilityman also hit for average and got on base against righties, albeit without much extra-base pop (.304/.358/.404).
The exact manner in which Flores fits into the Giants’ infield rotation isn’t clear. He can back up Brandon Belt at first base and Evan Longoria at third base, although it’s likely that non-roster invitee Pablo Sandoval will also be viewed as a backup at the corners. Flores could log semi-regular reps at second base, with Donovan Solano serving in a traditional utility role, although that doesn’t leave regular at-bats for young Mauricio Dubon at the position. Dubon, though, has been working out in the outfield and could earn himself a lengthy audition in center field, which would help to create additional playing time for Flores at second base.
Bringing Flores aboard on a multi-year agreement doesn’t bode well for 2019 Gold Glover Yolmer Sanchez, who agreed to a minor league contract with San Francisco just last week. Sanchez reportedly passed on big league offers for the chance to earn himself regular playing time at second base with the Giants, but the acquisition of Flores doesn’t help his chances any.
Looking further ahead, the Giants still have Belt, Longoria and Brandon Crawford all signed to guaranteed contracts through at least 2021, so there’s no creation of an everyday spot for Flores on the horizon. That’s nothing new for Flores, however. He’s typically appeared in more games and logged more plate appearances than your average bench bat but has also only topped 500 plate appearances once in seven Major League seasons.
Wilmer is a talented player. Good signing.
Did Wilmer cry upon his signing this contract?
Hilarious. That was 2015. Get over it.
He’s a sensitive guy. A great match for the Giants fragile, overly sensitive fan base
Look up troll in the dictionary and you’ll find the name rightyspecialist.
Somebody is overly sensitive about the Giants.
Never knew giving an 100% accurate assessment got you labeled as a troll. Interesting.
No, just over his tired shtick. And why is he all over every Giant’s article posting inanities? I don’t post trite cliches in every Yankees article. If he wanted to seriously discuss baseball he doesn’t act like it. He apparently sees every Giant’s article as an opportunity to troll and post insults. Defend him if you like.
So, posting “Giants, lol” over and over again, isn’t trolling?
And, that you believe the part about “the overly sensitive fan base” says a lot about you.
I miss the day of the down vote, granted it doesn’t have much meaning, but it would at least show a dumb a.. like “righty” just what a d bag people think he is.
….like I said, he’s a perfect fit for an overtly sensitive fan base. I stand by my post
Why are you so sensitive about the Giants fan base? You get rejected by Flores? Seems weird to get all bent out of shape about a signing.
@righty. Man do your lame-a** Giants’ posts get old. “RIGHTY LOL”
@tad, well said! I agree 100%
why because we want to win? You must be a Dodgers fan. Explains everything I need to know about you.
No need to get over it. Wilmer’s tears are the gift that keeps on giving.
I WANT players on my team that get upset if they get traded from my team. Wilmer was fine and I wish BVW just kept him for 2019/20 instead of signing Jed Lawrie
Hater!!!
It’s a bridge signing. Wilmer’s a little better than replacement level, he’s fairly cheap, and he gets the Giants to 2022, when they might actually be decent.
I couldn’t agree more with you!
probably signed him because they couldn’t get him out last year. lol. he torched the Giants last year.
Watch him be trash on the Giants
Why would you say that?
Is someone upset that the Giants signed a decent player at a low price! Once again I say “Haters”
The only trash is what your talking right now,
.583/.615/1.083 (14 for 24, 3 HR, 3 2B). You were not exaggerating.
nope. I remember trying to gouge my eyes out before every at bat so I didn’t have to watch.
If you were trying to gouge your eyes out over baseball….see a shrink!!
Yup. I was literally trying.
Mikhail Franco of the Phillies crushed the Mets last year and NO ONE else. Banished to KC…
That’s funny.
rightyspecialist…. Giants lol.
everyone else: ……idiot……..
Giants go get Puig!
We are talking about Wilmer Flores. Show some respect.
No thanks!
The Giants complain about Puig the way the 49er fans used to complain about Richard Sherman.
Insurance at 2B in case Dubon isnt ready as well as capable platoon option for Belt at 1B and backup for Longoria at 3B.
Wonder how this effects the Panda’s chances of making the team (assuming he’s recovered from Tommy John surgery by opening day).
Pablo is gonna probably start the year on the 60 day.
He won’t be ready opening day – probably like may
Flores has had success at the SS position. Maybe now Zaidi will DFA Crawford.
You Yankee fans can be dumb as a stick. Success at SS? He hasn’t played SS since 2016, in a limited role at that, less than 35 innings, and he did not grade well at all. Though in fairness it is a small sample in 2016. But for his career, more than 1,313 at SS he has a -15 DRS and a -2.3 UZR/150. That is not success.
Plus this has nothing to do with SS or Crawford. This is about 2B, and Dubon, and a possible shift for Dubon to CF. The Yolmer Sanchez signing had more to do with Crawford than this.
Zaidi is all about positionless baseball . The same as Friedman in LA or Cash in NY
Flores is a middle infielder that will see time at SS
It’s time to quit being so sensitive and grow a pair
Oh please. How ridiculous can you get? Your one trick for a while was posting “Giant’s lol”. Now you’ve discovered a this new absurd “sensitive fan base”, which I’m sure we’ll see posted over and over ad nauseum. Maybe you should grow a brain.
Using position-less players isn’t about playing anyone anywhere. It’s especially not true about playing a guy at a position he hasn’t played for 3 seasons, and not very well at that. Zaidi has other guys that can play SS better than Flores. As diminished as Crawford is he’s still better than Flores. Solano played 144 innings last year and is clearly better. And Yolmer Sanchez would be an obvious choice over Flores.
Flores was signed for his bat. If Flores plays SS it will be an emergency situation. Jeez, how dumb can Yankee fans get?
Bruce Bochy was the same way. What are you upset about?
Giants.Lol
Watching the Giants acquire 3 rings the last 10 years must’ve really stung a guy like you.
Flores is really just a 1bman. Maybe 3b…
Do you say the same thing over and over about the fans that support the team you like? Every fan base wants a quick turnaround from rebuilding or retooling and have feelings about it. You sound ignorant bro. and just like to read your own posts or something or ruffle the feathers of every team except yours. Cmon, your feelings about a certain signing with any given team is cool, but to do what you’re doing is what a 8 year old sore loser does.
Not sure about his defense, but he’s a pretty solid hitter. Not even old. I like it.
I really wanted the new teal Flores jersey
Solano, Flores, Yolmer… Is a Brandon Crawford DFA imminent?
No
He’s certainly been put on notice. He better start by dropping some weight
I’d imagine if he is hitting .212 with 3 hrs ad 16 RBI at the end of May, he’ll get the Joe Panik treatment.
I love the guy, but he isn’t worth the roster spot if he has the same offensive output as last year.
His offensive output was in 89 games. His batting average was 40 points higher than any giant last year. He hit 585 against the Giants last year. 3 mil a year for production anywhere close to his numbers last year are worth a roster spot.
depth.
Flores hasn’t played SS since 2016. I doubt they’re gonna play him there
But Solano and Sanchez could log time at short allowing flores to see time at second
True
Crawford won’t be seeing much time against lefties
I hope so. Crawford is worthless. Slow / Fat
Agreed. He is the definition of washed up.
Good for Wilmer – especially the multi-year MLB deal news. Giants fans will love him, as did fans in AZ & NY.
BELOVED in NY
Correct
it pretty obvious that character is a big part of all these vet signings. Phillies game loved ruf, we know about Pablo, Wilmer has always been liked everywhere.
Now trade Belt
Trading Belt now makes more sense than ever, and despite Texas just signing Bird, Belt to the Rangers (perhaps with SF eating some $$) would be a win-win for both clubs.
Is there room for all these infielders, or are the Giants planning to platoon everybody? Wilmer, Yolmer, Crawford, Dubon, Panda …
I thought they were supposed to be adding in the OF?
Dubon is probably gonna be in the OF per the article
Dubon tweeted out a short clip of himself in center field a couple days ago, so that’s a possibility.
This paves the way for Zaidi to finally DFA Brandon Crawford
Maybe they’re trying to bring Sandoval back to soften the blow of DFAing Crawford for the wine & cheese crowd.
Huh? Someone is out of step…They already resigned The Panda…Do you drink a lot of wine? That was an odd comment.
good get. versitile with a good bat. he may even have room to improve at his age.
Wilmer will someday finish his career in NY and a Mets uniform as a veteran off the bench.
While in limited playing time, Flores has been an above average hitter for 4 straight years now. Not to mention he’s appeared in 140+ games at each infield spot throughout his career. Nice signing.
Between this signing and Sanchez, I really think the Giants are prepping Dubon to play in the outfield.
Just curious, did Arizona fans like Flores? As a mets fan he was always a favorite. I know one year and half of it injured isn’t a good sample size but was just curious how he came off to the fans in Arizona.
This is a good utility/depth signing for the Giants. Injuries happen and young players are uncertain. Depth is a really good thing!
It’s a multi-year, MLB deal, so it can’t really be characterized as a depth signing. Depth guys are stashed in AAA in case of injury. Clearly Zaidi sees Flores as being a regular contributor.
Exactly. This isn’t depth. This is Zaidi seeing a probable starting 2B with the ability to fill in at other positions, as he likes.
Dubon gets some work in CF to see if he can stick, creating yet another multi-dimensional roster spot AND easing the OF situation by slotting Yaz into RF and Dickerson into LF from the start. Duggar likely gets another look, but not a long one. Dubon/Sanchez become natural 2B/SS backups along with Flores (who will then be moved around to give rest to the older guys) and the matchup options are many.
Smart moves being made by Zaidi. This team will be interesting in 2022 for sure, but 2021 may be more competitive than it seemed this time last year.
Wilmaaaa!!!
I’m coming Fred!
Hope he doesnt cry for being benched. “Are you crying?, theres no crying in baseball” Jimmy Dugan
Love Wilmer.
Let’s remember this is Gabe Kapler’s team now. That means he has metrics that show Pablo would make a great starting catcher and Flores a fifth starter.
Interesting that Wilmer picked the Giants; could be it was the only multi-year offer. He’s really quite good as the “utility ” guy, but is likely to go underappreciated in SF.
Huh? What are you talking about?
I’m going to bypass that just about everything you said is just obviously wrong and ignores what Zaidi and Kapler are building…
I will remind everyone, however, that Pablo was first brought up to the MLB club as a catcher… I was at his first game in Houston. He was called up from AA mid-series.
Good job by Giants. Wilmer is a winner.
I wanted him on the braves dang.
Why? lol where would he play? Minors?
If Flores is physically ok, long term, this is clearly Zaidi’s best hot stove move. Dubon will be moved to the outfield.
Pretty smart acquisition.
I doubt it, dubon is seen as an infielder by the brass. If anything I hope Belt is moved.
Sleepy,
Kapler likens dubon to kingery of phils. Others in the “brass” liken him to hernandez and taylor of Dodgers. They are infielders/outfielders.
Sounds like ur just making stuff up.
If he can repeat, then good move…
This shouldn’t be a big signing but for a team with as bad an offense as SF this is huge!
Who said it was a big signing?
Relative to what the Giants have done thus far this offseason, this is a big signing. Sad, but true.
Could there be something brewing? How many infielders do they need? While who knows where Flores will play, they gave him bucks. He has to play somewhere.
Wilmer has a good bat, but I find it kind of odd that they’ve seemingly brought him in to play 2B regularly given how defensively challenged he is there.
Helllllloooo, Willllmmmeeer !!!
Kids, that’s a Mr. Ed reference.
If Dubon is to learn the outfield he might start the year in AAA, where any difficulties he has adjusting will do less damage.
Neither Solano nor Sanchez is guaranteed to make the team so that infield puzzle may not be much of a puzzle at all. Solano had a nice season but the potential for these minor league free agent signings to revert to mediocrity is definitely there.
Right. Solano deserves re-upping because he hit so well, but if he reverts to the norm he can be cut with no hard feelings either way. Suspect you are on the money; Dubon (to much
gnashing of teeth) will start in the minors and brought up when either Sanchez, Solano or, more likely, Duggar stinks up the joint.
Ive always likes Flores….very good hitter with no true defensive position. I wish the Mets could have dumped Lowrie and resigned Wilmer…but the guy deserves at bats…give him a full 500….i can see
.280 20 80 .825 ops
The Giants did well to boost their offense with Flores..i hope he kills it for 156 games…just not when he plays the Mets
Great move. He’s limited defensively to say the least but an above average hitter and a fun guy to root for
Always amusing to hear Mets fans wax about Wilmer in the “clutch,” when it’s only in low leverage situations that he tends to excel:
baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=flore…::none
He’s bad in high leverage spots, bad with RISP, bad with men on base, and at his worst with the bases loaded.
Good signing for SF. Happy to see Flores receive a multi year contract. Don’t see him effecting the playing time of Sanchez at 2B. If Sanchez hits enough, his gold glove defense should keep him in the lineup everyday. Flores will likely be deployed as he has with NYM & ARZ, a RHH with power against lefties in a utility infielder role.
Terrible signing…$6M for a guy with a career 1.9WAR over 7 years? LMFAO
It’s for 3 million a year
That’s also because his defense is really bad. Look at his fWAR compared to his rWAR. And last year he played up to his AAV. If they play him at first he’ll be alright
Do you understand how math works
Um yes…and I know Flores is worth his contract.
You don’t know if it’s a bad signing until he plays and shows his worth. Do you think you can see into the future because I don’t believe you can.
I’m curious to see how much the Red Sox pay Pillar. If it is less than 9 million I’m not okay with that. Because the Giants could have renegotiated his contract and signed him for less.