Hot Stove Update: Giants to Sign Wilmer Flores

MLBTR is reporting the Giants have agreed to sign IF Wilmer Flores to a 2-year/$6 M contract with a 3'rd year option.  This is the first multi-year free agent contract of the still young Farhan Zaidi era, although it's hardly a blockbuster deal.  Flores is young for a FA at age 28(DOB:  8/6/1991).  He came up through the Mets system and played with them for 6 years before signing a 1 year FA contract with the D'Backs last season.  The D'Backs declined an option for 2020 making him a FA again.  Flores came up as a SS but has played all 4 IF positions with approximately equal frequency.  He's go solid power that has played both Citi Field and The Oracle, both pitcher-friendly ballparks.  He's an approximately average defender at all positions.

There are several possible roles for Flores with the Giants, but starting 2B would be where he would be the clearest upgrade.  If that is where he plays, it seems to leave Yolmer Sanchez out in the cold and severely cuts into Mauricio Dubon's opportunities for playing time, unless, of course, Farhan has designs on trading, benching or releasing Brandon Crawford.  Flores could also get playing time by creating a platoon with Brandon Belt, but I doubt Farhan would have handed out a multi-year guaranteed deal for the short side of a platoon player.

I really like this deal and won't worry about the playing time logjam.  That's for Kapler and Farhan to figure out.  It almost feels like Farhan is setting up a trade.  We'll see.