SF Giants agree to one-year, $4.7 million contract with Thairo Estrada

The SF Giants agreed to a one-year contract to avoid arbitration with second baseman Thairo Estrada, per multiple reports.

With the MLB arbitration deadline set for this afternoon, the SF Giants entered the day with three arbitration-eligible players still in need of new deals. The first to get out of the way was second baseman Thairo Estrada, who agreed to a one-year, $4.7 million contract with the team. The deal was first reported by Kiley McDaniel of ESPN and confirmed by a source to Giants Baseball Insider.

SF Giants 2B Thairo Estrada gives a speech after winning the Willie Mac award. (2023)

John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Thairo Estrada, who had one of the best years of his career in 2023, going .271/.315/.416 with 14 home runs and a career-high 23 stolen bases, was the Giants' Willie Mac Award winner. At just 27 years old, he's a quiet leader in the clubhouse and a no-brainer for the Giants to bring back as a cornerstone for their infield. His league-wide second highest outs above average at 19 is the highest by a Giant in the statcast era.

The reigning Willie Mac Award winner, Estrada was one of the most exciting players on the Giants roster last season. While he finished the campaign hitting .271/.315/.416 with 14 home runs and 23 stolen bases, the 27-year old had gotten off to a scorching hot start before he was sidelined for several weeks with a fractured hand after he was hit by a pitch. He remained a solid contributor and elite defender upon his return, but was unable to match his early-season offensive production. His deal for 2024 will give him a significant raise from his $2.25 million salary this past season.

Estrada was once a top prospect with the New York Yankees but was usurped by other players in the organization and seemed to plateau as a depth infield piece. The Giants capitalized on a Bronx Bombers' roster crunch and acquired Estrada in a minor trade for cash considerations that ranks among the best moves of Farhan Zaidi's tenure. Estrada quickly proved to be a valuable platoon bat with the team in 2021, but emerged as the Giants starting second baseman in 2022.