Lincecum Playing Hardball In Negotiations

Ruh-Roh, Raggy!! This decision ( and a similar one with Matt Cain ) will determine the direction of the franchise for the next decade. Can you keep both pitchers happy from a salary standpoint while at the same time keep the rest of the roster strong enough to compete for divisional titles and championships.

Both Lincecum and Cain seem poised and savvy enough to make the transition from power pitcher to finesse pitcher. Both should remain top of the rotation guys through the low to mid thirties at least.

Then do you rinse, lather and repeat the same exercise with Bumgarner in a couple of years.

Interesting time for the Giants front office. I would like to see both Lincecum and Cain in Giants uniforms for a LONG, LONG time, FWIW.

Lincecum Playing Hardball In Negotiations:

The Giants and Tim Lincecum are trying to work out a long-term deal for the two-time Cy Young Award winner, but there is a sizable gap in what the team is offering and what Lincecum is willing to accept, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported Wednesday.


The sides appear to have significant differences on the number of years of the contract, and they are tens of millions of dollars apart on the salary.

The Giants had made signing Lincecum and Matt Cain to long-term contracts a high priority this off-season. Lincecum’s current contract expires after the 2013 season, and Cain’s ends after the 2012 season.

CBSSports.com reported that the Giants apparently raised an earlier offer to Lincecum that was for four years and about $80 million, but Lincecum is looking for an eight-year deal.

The two sides are also considering a one-year or two-year deal if they can’t agree on a long-term deal.

A long-term deal for Lincecum probably would cost the Giants more than $100 million, according to CBSSports.com, but they want to avoid arbitration as well. Lincecum made $14 million in 2011, and he could make around $20 million in an arbitration settlement for 2012 and perhaps $25 million or more in 2013.