SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants first baseman Brandon Belt filed for salary arbitration Tuesday for the third consecutive season, while right-hander George Kontos engaged in the process for the first time.
Belt, 27, earned $3.6 million last year while batting .280 and establishing career highs with 18 homers, 68 RBIs and 56 walks in 137 games. Belt compromised with the Giants in 2014, agreeing to a $2.9 million deal.
• 156 Major Leaguers file for salary arbitration
Kontos, 30, earned $517,500 while appearing in a career-high 73 games and recording a personal-best 2.33 ERA.
The pair will now exchange salary figures with the Giants by Friday. If necessary, they can then continue to negotiate toward an agreement until a scheduled hearing, which will take place sometime between February 1-21.
At the hearing, each side presents its case, and the salary figure will be determined by a third-party arbitration panel.