Giants infielder Wilmer Flores landed on the 10-day injured list a couple of weeks back due to right knee tendonitis but he won’t be able to return this year. The club announced yesterday that the veteran would undergo a Tenex procedure, with Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic among those to relay the news on X. Today, manager Bob Melvin announced that Flores won’t be able to come back in what’s left of the season, per Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle on X. He’ll be transferred to the 60-day IL as soon as the Giants have a need for his roster spot.
Flores, who turns 33 today, has had a big drop-off at the plate this year and Melvin believes the knee issue is a big factor there, per Baggarly on X. He hit 23 home runs and slashed .284/.355/.509 in 2023 for a wRC+ of 136. But this year, his line dropped way down to .206/.277/.318, leading to a wRC+ of just 71. The right knee tendonitis put him on the IL twice this year, as he first landed on the shelf June 28 and was reinstated July 9, though he landed back there a couple of weeks later.
In September of 2022, the Giants and Flores agreed to a contract extension that would pay him $6.5MM in each of the two following seasons with a player/club option for 2025. The way the options works is that Flores first has to decide whether or not to trigger a $3.5MM option. If he declines, the club then decides whether or not to trigger an $8.5MM option.
That deal looked like a steal for the club throughout 2023 when Flores was having arguably the best offensive performance of his career, but it’s obviously taken a turn here in 2024. Based on his poor performance and injury, it seems fair to expect that Flores will be triggering that player option and coming back for 2025. The Giants will then have to hope that Melvin’s assessment of the situation is correct and that improved knee health will lead to better results next year.
Flores had mostly been playing first base over the past couple of years, with a bit of time at third base as well and a tiny sliver of playing time at second. Matt Chapman as the hot corner well covered for now and LaMonte Wade Jr. is having a great year at first, though he almost never gets sent up to the plate against lefties. Mark Canha taking the small side of the platoon with Wade since being acquired prior to the deadline.
How the infield looks next year will depend on various factors. As mentioned, Flores can trigger a player option and come back next year. Chapman has the ability to opt out of his deal and return to the open market, which seems likely at the moment since he’s having a great season, but it’s fair to wonder how much time the Giants would want Flores to spend at third on the heels of these knee problems. Canha is an impending free agent and won’t be in the mix next year, which perhaps leaves an opening for Flores to both platoon with Wade at first and take some time as the designated hitter, with the DH spot more open now that Jorge Soler has been traded to Atlanta.
His season ends right on his birthday, that’s a bummer…
Better than getting arrested on your birthday.
Or dying on your birthday. Like Mike Douglas, the talk-show host.
Meh, Maikel Franco was released two years in a row on his birthday or the day before
The Mark Canha trade only makes more sense with this update, although Flores struggled so mightily that Canha might have taken his job regardless.
In case this is the end of Wilmer’s time in SF, he was such a good Giant. Immensely easy to root for and was a sneaky good role player for his first four years there. I hope he gets healthy and continues to bring good vibes to whichever clubhouse he’s a part of in 2025
Forgot that he has an upcoming $3.5M player option. I’d assume he opts in due to his injury, age, and recent performance. That’s a small enough salary for the Giants to eat it to make other moves, but I hope he gets a chance to show he’s healthy and back to form in a Giants uniform next year
Obviously watching you knew he wasn’t right. Not sure the long term prognosis for that procedure but if he opts in and performs in Spring Training next year, if the SFG don’t feel he’s a roster fit for them, there will be takers for a healthy Wilmer Flores certainly at that price.
Loved Wilmer as a Met. I rooted for him no matter who he played for.
Easiest player to root for
Wilmer epitomizes a classy ballplayer. It wasn’t about squeezing every little dollar out of a club, it was about helping his team in whatever way they needed him to. Never complaining, and usually delivering, until he was hurt. If he heals he’s got a lot of hits left in that bat, and he’s still serviceable at 1B. Someone who needs a DH could do a lot worse next year. And he will be a real bargain. But he has to play – he’s not as good when he sits for long stretches. Like most players.
Loved Wilmer as a Giant. He was the foundation that carried the team at times.
Hope he’ll be remembered in an orange and black uni once his career wraps.
Now Wilmer qualifies as a “Forever Giant”, unlike most of the hacks casual fans honor with that moniker.
Also, forever a Met.
Gabe Kapler probably not a ‘Forever Giant’
Dan uggla, forever giant.
Was probably their best player last year not named Webb.
If he cried about being traded to the Brewers, imagine the tears for this.
Shaming a guy for crying is not the flex you think it is.
He was their best hitter last year. Pretty sure he’s been going through an injury most of this. If he comes back next year it’ll probably be closer to his 2022 than the last two. If not, I know he’ll get a big ovation if he ever goes back to (insert phone company name) park
Please trade for Vladdy next year
This will not damper my excitement for Outside Lands this weekend.
Outside Lands is my yearly reminder that I am getting old, as the only bands I am excited for – The Killers and The Postal Service – are each about 20 years past their prime.
Deftones and System of A Down the weekend after is going to be way better.
Take the 3.5, Wilmer. See you next year.
3.5 is low enough that he might not take the player option and search for longer term – maybe a team will see past history and puts down 4m-5m on him for a few years.
Far from a given. I think he has a few little Wilmer Flores’ to uproot if he does go searching.
Doubtful
If I was Wilmer, I wouldn’t take that chance..I’d opt in and earn the next contract..just too risky and let the 3.5 million to slip away, if no one signs at all or sign w/a new team for less..Belt couldn’t even find a job this offseason and he was decent as a Blue Jay
It does seem odd Belt was not picked up at all, his injuries made him unreliable but he did hit 19HRs and did not hit too bad for average either.
I’d be surprised if he doesn’t. Class act all the way. Whereas JD Davis would demand fifty more bucks.
I hated when the Mets let him go. I will always think fondly of Wilmer.
Happy birthday Wilmer!
You were the Giants best hitter last year. Hope to see you back on the field next spring.
It’s his birthday and he can cry if he wants to (cry if he wants to, cry if he wants to)