SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Giants have their roster ready for the start of spring training next month.
Center fielder Andres Torres and the World Series champions agreed to terms Saturday on a $2.2 million, one-year contract to avoid arbitration.
Torres was the last of San Francisco's six arbitration-eligible players to reach agreement and the club announced the deal Saturday. The speedy leadoff man also can earn an additional $100,000 in performance bonuses.
"It's always nice for me when you can get deals done without having to go into a room," Bobby Evans, the Giants' vice president of baseball operations, said in a phone interview Saturday. "That's what you want. When you get a deal done this early, it's also nice for both sides."
The 32-year-old Torres batted .268 with 16 home runs and 63 RBIs in his first full season in the big leagues after toiling through the minors for 12 years — eight at the Triple-A level — before finally getting his shot. Many teams passed on him based on his size: 5-foot-10, 175 pounds.
Torres emerged as the Giants' every day center fielder in May in place of Aaron Rowand.
It's been a busy week for Evans. San Francisco also reached agreement on one-year deals with relievers Santiago Casilla, Javier Lopez and Ramon Ramirez, outfielder and postseason star Cody Ross, and starting left-hander Jonathan Sanchez.
Torres surprised the Giants and even himself with a rapid recovery from an emergency appendectomy late in the season to help San Francisco in the stretch run.
Torres had the procedure Sept. 12 in San Diego and played again Sept. 24 — missing all of 11 games. He recovered more quickly than anybody expected thanks to his fitness level and determination. Manager Bruce Bochy had all but ruled out his center fielder and leadoff man for the remainder of the regular season.
The Giants clinched the NL West on the season's final day to earn their first playoff berth since 2003, then made an improbable run to the franchise's first World Series title since 1954 and first since moving West in 1958.
Torres hit .276 with a home run and three RBIs in 15 postseason games. He hit four doubles and stole two bases.
The ever-positive Torres was recognized as the team's 2010 "Willie Mac" Award winner. The honor is named for Hall of Famer Willie McCovey and is voted on by the players, coaches and training staff to recognize the team's most inspirational player both on the field and in the clubhouse.
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AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this report.
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