Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Giants have reached agreement on a two-year, $40.5 million contract with right-hander Tim Lincecum.
The Giants were hoping to luck Lincecum up to a long-term contract this offseason, but the 27-year-old had a higher asking price than the club could reach. This deal buys out his remaining arbitration years, and allows him to test the open market in 2014. Lincecum registered a 2.74 ERA and 220/86 K/BB ratio in 217 innings last year for San Francisco and should remain a bonafide ace over the course of his new two-year deal.
The Giants saved a little money but not a lot. I'm glad they avoided a hearing because it could have gotten a tad bit ugly. Lincecum's case would have been no other. It sucks to not get any free agent years but now the focus has to go towards locking Cain up. Cain is a free agent after the year and is actually a year younger than Lincecum.