On Sunday, Wilmer Flores hit a home run in the eighth inning to give the Giants an important insurance run in their 4-2 win over the Cubs. One day later, Flores got some insurance of his own, agreeing on a two-year contract extension with a mutual option for 2025, per MLB Network insider Joel Sherman. The financial terms of the deal are not yet known, and the team has not confirmed the deal.
Flores, 31, has put together a career year at the plate, while continuing to showcase his trademark versatility in the field. In 132 games this year, Flores has slugged 18 home runs (which ties his career best, set last year) and has driven in a career-high 65 runs. He’s also exhibiting strong plate discipline, as evidenced by his solid whiff rate (84th percentile) and strikeout rate (78th percentile).
Despite primarily playing second base this year (52 appearances), Flores has also seen time at first base (37) and third base (32), which gives the Giants some versatility over the next couple years as they try to build a more athletic roster. With Brandon Belt still unsure about returning next year and the futures of Evan Longoria, Brandon Crawford and Tommy La Stella up in the air, Flores should continue to play all over the diamond over the next two years.
After spending six seasons with the Mets and one with the D-backs, Flores signed a two-year, $6.25 million deal with a $3.5 million club option prior to the 2020 season, the first multiyear contract handed out by president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi.