San Francisco Giants

Shortstop Brandon Crawford is the final remnant of the Giants’ World Series teams from the early 2010s after longtime first baseman Brandon Belt agreed to a one-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, according to multiple reports on Monday night.

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle was first to report that Belt was moving on from the team that selected him in the fifth round of the 2009 draft and he helped win the final two of its three World Series championships in five seasons from 2010-14.

Belt made his debut with the Giants in 2011, and except for injuries was the everyday first baseman ever since. Last season was particularly rough for the left-handed hitter because of a knee injury that required season-ending surgery. Belt set career lows by batting .213 with a .676 on-base percentage, and played in just 78 games.

For most of his career Belt was a big force in the middle of the Giants lineup. He also was a playoff star. He batted .308 during the 2014 World Series against the Kansas City Royals. Earlier during that playoff run, Belt hit a home run to lead off the 18th inning in Game 2 of the NLDS to beat the Washington Nationals.

Belt, 34, received a guaranteed deal worth $9.3 million, according to Kaitlyn McGrath of the Athletic. Belt also was a free agent last offseason, but was back in orange and black after accepting the team’s $18.4 million, one-year qualifying offer. The Giants brought back potential free agent Joc Pederson this offseason with a $19.65 million qualifying offer.

Belt, known by Giants fans over the years as “Baby Giraffe” and more recently “Captain”, became the longest-tenured member of the Giants when Buster Posey retired after the 2021 season. The 2016 All-Star had one of his best seasons in 2021, hitting a career-high 29 home runs with a slash line of .274/378/.597 in helping the Giants win a San Francisco franchise-record 107 games.

Allowing Belt to leave as a free agent clears the way for the Giants to use J.D. Davis, Wilmer Flores, Lamont Wade Jr. and others at first base in 2023.

After 12 seasons with the Giants, Belt joins a loaded Blue Jays lineup headed by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer, Bo Bichette and former A’s third baseman Matt Chapman. Belt likely will share time at first base with Guerrero and also give Toronto matchup options at designated hitter.

Belt’s season ended when he underwent surgery on his right knee in September. Belt’s status with the Giants was uncertain before the injury, but shortly after the procedure made it clear he intended to play somewhere in 2023.

During an interview on NBC Sports Bay Area during a Giants telecast about a week after the procedure, Belt told Giants fans he felt “like a brand new person.”

Belt underwent a career revival in 2020-21, hitting  38 home runs with a .285/.393/.595 slash line. He said swelling in his knee cut into his production last season, making him optimistic for a return to form in 2023.

“I know I have a lot left in me,” Belt said during the broadcast interview. “That’s what I want to show everybody. My body feels good. I had a problem with my knee, but if I get that back to where it needs to be, I’ll be the same productive player.”

He also noted during the interview that, “there’s really nowhere else I want to play. We’ll see what happens. This is a business. Stuff happens.

“I really love the Bay Area. I absolutely love this organization. I love the fans.  … I don’t know what’s going to happen. All I know is that I’m going to get as strong as I can and try to get ready to play baseball next year.”

Laurence has held a variety of roles with the Bay Area News Group sports deparment since arriving in 2000. He is a former A’s beat writer who has helped cover MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL as well as college and high schools in addition to serving as the Sports copy desk director.