The San Francisco Giants have signed veteran shortstop Brandon Crawford to a two-year contract extension, the club announced on Friday. According to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area, the deal is worth a total of $32 million.
Crawford is in the final year of a six-year, $75 million contract that he signed prior to the 2016 season, so he had been slated for free agency this coming winter. This season, his age-34 campaign, he's been essential to the Giants' standing as the best team in baseball. In 95 games, Crawford has batted .296/.364/.540 (141 OPS+) with 19 home runs, 21 doubles, and nine stolen bases in as many attempts.
Crawford also continues to grade out as a plus fielder at the premium position of shortstop. Crawford is a three-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, and he's evolved into a productive hitter by the standards of his position. He's likely headed for his first top-10 finish in the NL MVP balloting this year.
Crawford has spent his entire professional career with the Giants since being drafted in the fourth round out of UCLA in 2008. As well, Crawford is a Bay Area native and lifelong Giants fan. Throw in the fact that Crawford was a core piece of the 2012 and 2014 World Series championship teams, and he stands as one of the most beloved Giants of the San Francisco era. On top of all that, he's still performing at a high level, which explains the team's interest in keeping him around into his late thirties.
Entering play on Friday, the Giants are in first place in the NL West, five games ahead of the reigning World Series champion Dodgers.
