People with knowledge of the negotiations: Giants, C Bengie Molina reach $4.5M, 1-year deal

AP sources: Giants, Molina agree to 1-year deal

SAN FRANCISCO — In an unexpected twist, Bengie Molina is coming back to the San Francisco Giants.

The free-agent catcher reached a preliminary agreement with the Giants on a $4.5 million, one-year contract, two people with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was pending a physical and had not been completed.

The 35-year-old Molina can earn an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses based on games started. KPIX TV in San Francisco first reported Molina’s deal.

It’s a surprising move for both sides, because Molina had been negotiating a deal only days ago with the New York Mets, who offered $5.5 million in guaranteed money as part of a proposal that included a vesting option for 2011. But if Molina stays healthy, he would earn $500,000 more from the Giants this year than under the Mets’ proposal.

Molina had originally hoped to land a three-year contract this offseason, and Giants general manager Brian Sabean had said the veteran backstop wouldn’t return.

“That ship has sailed,” Sabean said at the winter meetings last month.

The Giants also agreed Tuesday to a $2.1 million contract with left-hander Jonathan Sanchez, avoiding arbitration. Sanchez threw a no-hitter on July 10.

San Francisco has two players in salary arbitration. Ace pitcher Tim Lincecum asked for a record $13 million after winning the past two NL Cy Young Awards, while the Giants countered at $8 million. San Francisco closer Brian Wilson asked for $4,875,000, and the team submitted a $4 million offer.

While Molina appeared set to join the Mets, the Giants came back into the picture only recently.

Molina said late last season that he preferred to stay in San Francisco if shown he was wanted. Right away, Sabean ruled out giving Molina more than a one-year deal with Buster Posey set to be the club’s catcher of the future.

Molina batted .265 with a career-high 20 home runs to go with 80 RBIs last season as the cleanup hitter in his third year with the Giants and 12th in the big leagues.

Molina’s previous $16 million, three-year contract ended after last season and he became a free agent. He also said he would like to retire as a Giant.

San Francisco was never prepared to make such a commitment considering Molina’s age and health concerns. The Giants were ready to move forward with Posey, the fifth overall pick in the 2008 draft, if no other opportunity emerged. Yet Sabean had said this winter he didn’t think Posey was ready to be a full-time major league catcher and would prefer he start the season with Triple-A Fresno to gain more experience.

Posey hit .325 with 18 homers and 80 RBIs in the minors last season and played seven games with San Francisco in September.

AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this report.