Yaz stays hot and hopes to stay with the Giants next season

Yaz remains hot and hopes to remain with the Giants next season. Originally published on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants did so much damage in the first innings on Wednesday that the Milwaukee Brewers used a first baseman to pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning. It was a real laugh at Oracle Park, and after playing 13 games with just a one-point difference over the last month, manager Bob Melvin took the opportunity to give some of his veterans some extra rest.

His ninth-inning outfield featured Heliot Ramos, Grant McCray and Luis Matos, a young trio that could join Jung Hoo Lee in the coming years to take most of the outfield batting. It's a collection of talent the Giants are excited about, but they certainly won't forget the longest-tenured player in the outfield mix.

Mike Yastrzemski had a home run, a double and four RBIs before Melvin gave him and Matt Chapman a breather at the end of a 13-2 victory over the Brewers, continuing a solid second half for Yastrzemski, who overcame a slow start to put up his usual numbers.

Yastrzemski's wRC+ of 112 is right on par with his career high, and he's now hit 15 home runs after hitting 17 and 15 in the previous two seasons. He's matched last year's total at 1.7 fWAR with 16 games to go, largely due to the strength of his Gold Glove-worthy defense in right field and his above-average baserunning.

The Giants once again know exactly what they're going to get from the 34-year-old, which is a relief considering his performance early in the season. Yastrzemski's OPS dipped below .600 in mid-May and there were calls to release him and Austin Slater, but he's been on a steady uphill climb since that low point. He knows that could make all the difference in the offseason.

“After April, I was pretty frustrated and just wanted to bounce back and prove my worth because I love this place. I don't want to go anywhere as long as I'm playing,” Yastrzemski said. “I love the group here, the staff, the front office has treated me like family and they're fantastic, the fans are incredible and have made me feel at home. The goal is to stay here as long as possible and I understand that's usually based on performance, so I just try to continue to add value every day, whether it's leading here or not. [in the clubhouse]whether he plays the right way, whether he runs hard and makes some plays on defense.

“I just want to show my worth wherever I can and try to stick around as long as possible.”

Yastrzemski still has a year of arbitration left and the Giants could make an interesting decision. He's making $7.9 million this season and should land around $10 million next season. Since teams generally consider a WAR to be worth about that much, Yastrzemski would certainly add value if he continues to repeat what he did this season.

There are complications, however. Ramos' promotion has secured left field, and Lee will start at center. The Giants could decide to spend their available money on other positions this winter and look for young (and cheap) players for their last outfield spots. They could also pursue Juan Soto, Teoscar Hernandez or Anthony Santander, who would complete the outfield. The latter plan would not necessarily mean the end of Yastrzemski's six-year run in orange and black.

His ability to play all three outfield positions could make him a fourth outfielder if the Giants play big. If not, Yastrzemski will likely return to playing right field.

The Giants have a lot of confidence in a player who was one of Farhan Zaidi's first discoveries, not only on the field but in the locker room as well. Earlier this week, Yastrzemski was announced as a nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, given to players who best represent the game through character and philanthropic efforts.

There's another factor that shouldn't be overlooked. Yastrzemski has an OPS of .853 at home this season, a number that has led him to question whether he's trying too hard on the road, where Giants hitters traditionally find much more forgiving conditions. Sometimes they open their eyes too wide.

The Giants have learned time and time again that it's difficult to find hitters who will commit to spending 81 nights at Oracle Park, and there's a good chance they'll scour the market this offseason and get that message from the best outfielders available. Yastrzemski fits the ballpark and loves hitting here, and that will only help him when the Giants make a final decision on his final year of arbitration.

“This is not a place you like to hit, and it's not really playing in the outfield. Not only does he swing the bat well here, he's as good in right field as anyone,” Melvin said. “I mean, he's playing his best baseball right now. He's hitting [first and second] in the lineup and is doing a lot of good work. He scored four more runs today. This is probably the best game he's played all year.”

For a veteran who has been around long enough to know that this is, first and foremost, a business, the timing couldn't be better.

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