Giants lose backup catcher Stephen Vogt to Diamondbacks

The Giants apparently need to dip into the market for a backup catcher once again, because Stephen Vogt is heading to the desert.

Vogt, who grew up a Giants rooter and became a fan favorite in his one year in San Francisco, said Tuesday that he has signed a one-year free-agent contract with the Diamondbacks that includes a vesting option for 2021.

Vogt is guaranteed $3 million, but with the vesting option and escalators, he can earn as much as $7 million over the next two years.

The 35-year-old becomes the second popular Giant to leave via free agency after closer Will Smith signed a three-year, $40 million contract with his hometown Braves.

The Giants will get a compensatory draft pick for Smith, because they tendered him a qualifying offer, but they did not for Vogt.

Vogt told The Chronicle that he picked Arizona over two other teams. The Giants were one, and he said “they were right there toward the end as one of the finalist teams. They made a very good offer.”

Vogt did not divulge the third finalist but said it was not the A’s, who were interested and did negotiate. Vogt spent four seasons in Oakland before a midseason trade to Milwaukee in 2016.

He had a major shoulder operation in 2017 and missed the 2018 season. He signed a minor-league deal with the Giants, started 2019 in Triple-A, then had a fine season in San Francisco that no doubt helped him earn his new deal.

In 99 games, mostly at catcher, but with some time at first base and left field, the left-handed batter hit .263 with a solid OPS (.804) and 10 home runs.

Vogt said the biggest factor in choosing Arizona was the “stability” of potentially playing two seasons there.

Vogt would not divulge the Giants’ final offer, but it was not believed to include the second season. He said that second year with Arizona will vest if he plays a normal number of games in a healthy season.

With Buster Posey signed through 2021 and top prospect Joey Bart on the verge of his big-league debut, the Giants might have thought that a two-year deal with Vogt did not make sense.

They also have spoken highly of Aramis Garcia's development, although he, like Posey, bats right-handed.

Vogt said the Diamondbacks pursued him from “Day 1. They’re a young team, in good position to win. I’m really excited for the opportunity to win and the opportunity to make a home for the next couple of years.”

Vogt said the Giants’ hiring of Gabe Kapler as manager was not a factor in his choice. In fact, he called himself “a big Kapler fan. I’m rooting for him to succeed in San Francisco. I’m sure he will succeed if given the opportunity.”

They were teammates with the Rays.

Catching seems to be a hot commodity early in this free-agent market. Travis d’Arnaud, Tyler Flowers, Yasmani Grandal and Dustin Garneau all have signed.

Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has said he would look into the market for an experienced catcher to back up Posey.