SAN FRANCISCO — At age 26, Buster Posey can envision one day retiring with the San Francisco Giants.

For now, he is their new franchise man.

The Giants rewarded the NL MVP and batting champion catcher with a $167 million, nine-year contract Friday, a deal that includes a club option for 2022 that could raise the value to $186 million over a decade.

“It’s hard to put into words what I feel right now, just an incredible feeling know that for the next nine years I’ll be a part of this very storied franchise,” Posey said. “I’m incredibly humbled to know I’ll be a part of that.”

He came to the plate Friday night to rousing cheers from the sellout crowd of 42,808 and led off the second inning against Oakland’s A. J. Griffin with a single to left. Posey finished 2 for 4 in the 3-1 win.

Posey had been due to make $8 million this year. He instead gets a $7 million signing bonus, with $5 million payable Oct. 15 and the remainder Jan. 15, and his 2013 salary is reduced to $3 million.