Giants Reach Agreement with Buster Posey: nine years $167 million

Buster Posey wanted to play his entire career with the San Francisco Giants. Understandably, the Giants wanted to make that happen. Posey and the Giants have agreed to a nine-year, $167 million contract, that covers his three remaining arbitration years and buys out his first five years of free agency. The deal includes a $22 million club option for 2022 and a full no-trade clause.

CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman first reported that the two sides were discussing a long-term deal.

Now 26, the right-handed hitting Posey was named National League Most Valuable Player, captured the NL batting title with a .336 average and received NL Comeback Player of the Year recognition in 2012 while guiding the Giants to their second World Series title in three seasons.

Injured during a home plate collision in 2011, Posey remains behind the plate for the Giants but also occasionally plays first base. He will continue to split time at both positions as the Giants have promising 22-year-old Hector Sanchez as Posey’s backup catcher.

The club also has 23-year-old Andrew Susac, a second round pick out of Oregon State University in 2011 who could be Major League ready by 2014. If Sanchez and/or Susac show they have the defensive skills, leadership abilities and bat to become the regular backstop, Posey can be moved to first base full time to prolong his career.

Posey was eligible for arbitration for the first time in his three-year Major League career over the offseason, and he avoided a hearing when he agreed to an $8 million salary for 2013.

The 2010 National League Rookie of the Year could have become a free agent after the 2016 season and  would have been arbitration eligible in three more years.