Flores gets 2-year extension from Giants

SAN FRANCISCO – Giants fans, fond of clapping to Wilmer Flores’ walk-up song, will get to keep it up in the years ahead.

The versatile infielder agreed to a two-year contract extension with an option for 2025, the Giants announced Monday. According to the club, Flores will make $6.5 million each of the next two seasons and has a $3.5 million player option for 2025. If Flores declines his option, the Giants hold an $8.5 million club option.

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“It was a no-brainer,” Flores said. “Since Day 1, I’ve just been loving the culture here and the way they treat me.”

Likewise, Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said it was an easy decision to bring back Flores. The 31-year-old entered Monday leading the team in games played (132), plate appearances (523) and RBIs (65) while ranking second in homers (18) and third in OPS (.733). Though he has played most often at second base, Flores is also a trusted option at first base and third base.

“He’s been a really popular guy in the clubhouse,” Zaidi said. “He’s been popular with our fans. He’s been popular with us as a front office because of his versatility, production and ability to fit on a number of different roles.

“It has been a nice fit, and we expect that it will continue to be a nice fit as the team evolves going forward. Happy that he was motivated to get something done. We certainly were.”

The understated Flores has become a favorite of manager Gabe Kapler and a key fixture in the clubhouse over the past two-plus seasons. Flores is also popular among Giants fans for walking up to the plate to the “Friends” theme song, which gets ’em clapping every time.

Kapler said Flores is always the first player out on the field during voluntary hitting sessions. He also pointed to Sunday as an example of Flores’ respect within the club, as catcher Joey Bart called him over to speak with closer Camilo Doval in a tense ninth-inning situation against the Cubs.

“He grinds his [tail] off on a very consistent, dependable schedule,” Kapler said. “Those are the characteristics I would use to describe Wilmer. He’s dependable and consistent.”

Flores said he first started thinking about an extension a month ago, once the Trade Deadline passed. He was eager to stay in San Francisco despite the allure of free agency.

Zaidi said that “five or six” teams expressed interest in Flores at the Deadline this season, but the Giants decided to hold on to him for the future. Flores said he appreciated the vote of confidence.

“Definitely,” Flores said. “You can’t buy where you think is comfortable.”

As for the peculiar structure of the potential third season of the contract extension, Zaidi acknowledged there could be some gamesmanship at the negotiating table following the 2024 season.

“Ask me in two years, we’ll see,” Zaidi said with a laugh.

Flores would likely exercise the player option if he’s injured at the end of 2024 or playing at a level when he thinks he’s worth less than $3.5 million annually. At that point, the Giants might not be interested in a 34-year-old Flores. If the Giants are willing to pay $8.5 million to Flores in 2025, then he will have probably performed at a high level in 2023 and ’24. We’ll have to see how it all plays out.

“There’s also the possibility that both sides decline and we figure out a number in the middle that makes sense,” Zaidi said. “I just think there’s some guarantee for the player, there’s an ability for the club to retain the player for a third year if it makes sense.”