Giants sign backups Travis Ishikawa, Hector Sanchez to 1-year contracts

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 postseason 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 win 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.