SAN FRANCISCO — First baseman and left fielder Travis Ishikawa has agreed to a $1.1 million contract with the San Francisco Giants for next season, avoiding salary arbitration. Catcher Hector Sanchez, whose season ended prematurely because of a concussion, also reached an $800,000 deal Thursday.
Assistant general manager Bobby Evans confirmed the moves Thursday night.
Ishikawa became an unlikely post-season star to help the Giants to their third World Series title in five years.
The journeyman who began last season with Pittsburgh hit a three-run homer in the NL Championship Series clincher against St. Louis that sent San Francisco to a 6-3 in Game 5 against the Cardinals.
He connected for the first game-ending home run that sent the Giants into the World Series since perhaps the most famous drive in baseball history — Bobby Thomson’s "Shot Heard ‘Round the World" in a 1951 playoff.
Sanchez went on the concussion list July 26, then took a hard foul tip off the mask Aug. 16 while on an injury rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Fresno, sustaining a second concussion. He batted .196 with three homers and 28 RBIs in 66 games. Sanchez was the primary backup to Buster Posey before the injury.
