Giants reach deal with Arias, avoiding arbitration

Joaquin Arias emerged as a solid utilityman last season, hitting .270 with five homers and 34 RBIs.

Photographer Number 1/Mark J. Terrill

Infielder Joaquin Arias has agreed to a one-year, $925,000 contract with the San Francisco Giants to avoid salary arbitration.

The deal reached Friday leaves reliever Sergio Romo as the only Giants arbitration-eligible player left to sign.

Arias made $525,000 last season and the deal was reached at the midpoint between what the Giants had offered and Arias had requested in salary arbitration.

Arias batted .270 with five homers and 34 RBIs in 112 games last season when he played mostly at shortstop and third base.

He had just eight at-bats in the postseason and did not play at all in San Francisco's World Series sweep against Detroit.