SF Giants sign deals with Cody Ross, Jonathan Sanchez

(01-18) 21:12 PST -- The Giants completed some important business Tuesday by reaching 2011 contract agreements with their two players who figured to earn the most through salary arbitration, which now is averted.

National League Championship Series MVP Cody Ross agreed to a $6.3 million deal while pitcher Jonathan Sanchez signed for $4.8 million. Reliever Ramon Ramirez also agreed to a $1.65 million contract.

The three other Giants who are eligible for arbitration, Andres Torres, Javier Lopez and Santiago Casilla, could not come to terms immediately and instead exchanged salary figures with the club, though their negotiations are said to be far along and all should sign soon.

The only mild surprise was Ross signing for one year.

During the stretch drive and his fantastic postseason run, the 30-year-old outfielder said he loved playing in San Francisco and hoped to stay for many years. He and the Giants figured to explore at least a two-year contract that covered 2011, his final year of arbitration eligibility, and 2012, his first year as a potential free agent.

Now, Ross will be free to sign with any team after this season, unless they revisit an extension before season's end. For 2011, he gets a nearly $2 million raise over the $4.45 million he was paid by the Marlins and Giants last year.

Giants executive Bobby Evans said that with six arbitration-eligible players, the team decided to focus on one-year contracts with each player.

"There were time constraints we were working under," Evans said. "Good, diligent work can be sidetracked when you don't focus on what you have to do now. Anything beyond (one-year deals), that's not something we're focusing on this early in our planning. There's still time to look at that in the future."

Neither Ross nor his agent returned phone calls seeking comment.

Sanchez, who went 13-9 last season and pitched five shutout innings in the division-clinching win against San Diego, will more than double his salary in his second and penultimate year of arbitration eligibility. The Scott Boras client earned $2.1 million last year.

Arbitration hearings rarely occur. Last year, Tim Lincecum and team officials were sitting in a hearing room in Florida waiting for the arbitrators to enter the room when they settled on a two-year, $23 million contract.

In the off chance a hearing would take place, a three-member arbitration panel would listen to arguments from both sides and pick one figure or the other.

Torres, who earned $426,000 in 2010 as he emerged as the everyday center fielder, will get a huge raise either way in his first year of arbitration eligibility. He is seeking $2.6 million with the team offering $1.8 million, according to the Associated Press.

Lopez asked for $2.8 million with the team offering $2 million. The Giants offered Casilla $1 million; he wants $1.65 million.

A's: Stronger bullpen built to back quality rotation; plus, multiple signings Tuesday.

Baseball notes: Player moves around the majors. B5

E-mail Henry Schulman at hschulman@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page B - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle