Giants avoid Arbitration with 3, 2 remain un-signed

Sep 26, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants center fielder

(7) slides into home against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning at AT

The San Francisco Giants have avoided arbitration with 3 players and 2 remain unsigned. The team has announced that Infielder Tony Abreu, Outfield Gregor Blanco and RHP Yusmeiro Petit have all agreed to one year deals, avoiding salary arbitration.

The 2 Players that remained unsigned to new contracts for the 2014 season, IF Joaquin Arias and 1B Brandon Belt. Before you start to panic and think that both Arias and Belt won’t be back with the team, Andrew Baggarly of Comcast Sports will talk you off the ledge.

All players that remain unsigned have until 12:00pm PST today (January 17,2014) to reach a new contract, otherwise the player and team will exchange contract figures.If no extension is reached then a hearing with an arbitrator will take place.

I would expect a deal to be done with both Arias and Belt, with Belt eventually getting a contract extension that would buy out all his remaining arbitration years.

I have not seen any contract details for Abreu or Blanco. It is being reported that Petit will receive $854K plus bonuses

None of the 3 signed today will be starters on the team, but will be all be important pieces to the 2014 team. Blanco will be the fourth outfielder and will spell starting leftfielder Mike Morse late in-game for defense and will also be used as a late game pitch runner. Abreu will back up starting second baseman Marco Scutaro. As far as Petit goes, I expect him to fill the role left by Chad Gaudin, long relief and fill in starter when one the starters misses time due to injury