SF Giants team Captain, Brandon Belt, jumped ship - Free agent signed with Toronto

[Brother Buzz]

Blue Jays Sign Brandon Belt


January 9: After 12 seasons with the Giants, Brandon Belt is headed to Toronto. He’s in agreement with the Blue Jays on a one-year, $9.3MM contract for the 2023 season. The Excel Sports Management client has reportedly already passed his physical. The Jays are expected to formally announce the signing Tuesday, at which point they’ll need to make a corresponding 40-man roster move.
A fifth-round pick by San Francisco in 2009, Belt reached the majors two seasons later. He played in 63 games as a rookie and took hold of the primary first base job by his second season. Belt was a key contributor on San Francisco’s 2012 World Series team, hitting .275/.360/.421 over 145 games. Injuries limited him to 61 regular season contests during the 2014 season but he was healthy enough to contribute to San Francisco’s third title in five years during the playoffs.

Belt battled intermittent injury issues throughout the coming years. When healthy, he was a consistently productive offensive player. While San Francisco’s pitcher-friendly home ballpark depressed his over-the-fence power, he was an annual threat for 30+ doubles and posted huge on-base numbers thanks to massive walk rates. At the start of the 2016 season, the Giants inked Belt to a $72.8MM extension that kept him off the open market through the 2021 campaign. He followed up with a .275/.394/.474 showing through 655 trips to the plate, earning his only career All-Star nod in the process.

The Texas product saw his production tail off a bit over the next few seasons, hitting at a slightly above-average level through 2019. He rebounded in a huge way in 2020, mashing at a .309/.425/.591 clip to secure some down-ballot MVP support during the shortened season. He continued to rake the following season but saw that year frequently interrupted by injury. Belt lost time to a left oblique strain and soreness in his right knee but managed a .274/.378/.597 showing while shattering his previous career mark with 29 home runs in just 97 games. Unfortunately, an errant pitch fractured his left thumb late in the season and he wasn’t able to participate in San Francisco’s playoff run.

-more-

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/01/blue-jays-to-sign-brandon-belt.html

[Auggie]

1. I don't think the Giants wanted to keep him

His defense was stellar over the years but the runs production including productive outs, IMO, were disappointing. One could argue S.F. doesn't have a player even close to replacing Belt and that might be true -- at least as a defender. But even that wasn't guaranteed considering his injury history.

Thanks Captain, but it's time to say goodbye.

Meanwhile, 2023 is a rebuilding year. Don't expect miracles.

[Mr.Bill]

2. I think that leaves Brandon Crawford

as the last player from the World Series years.

Belt also leads active players in splash home runs at the Giants home park.