Tim Lincecum’s two Cy Young awards makes his arbitration case more complicated:
Theoretically, because of a “special accomplishment” provision, the arbitration process allows Thurman to negotiate without regard to service time, meaning Lincecum could be compared with any pitchers, meaning teammate Barry Zito (averaging $18 million annually) and CC Sabathia ($23 million average) could enter the conversation, meaning open the vault.
Article VI Rule F (12) in the basic agreement states the arbitration panel must consider comparisons with others who have similar service time.
But it adds, “This shall not limit the ability of a player or his representative, because of special accomplishment, to argue the equal relevance of salaries of Players without regard to service, and the arbitration panel shall give whatever weight to such argument as is deemed appropriate.”
I wonder if there is going to be a huge discrepancy in the salaries submitted to arbitration, and if that might not work in the Giants favor. I could see where Lincecum’s agent might put Tim between Zito and Sabathia and ask for $20 million. I can see where the Giants might come in at $11 million, giving Tim a record for super-two’s, instead of $14 million, which Tim is probably worth. The mid-point is lower in the first scenario, so settling costs the Giants less, but there’s also the chance the Giants win at $11 million, which would be huge for the team.
As for a long-term contract:
Lincecum is under the Giants’ control for four more years and isn’t eligible for free agency until after the 2013 season. One reason the Giants aren’t rushing to sign him long term involves an insurance issue. Sabean said it has become tougher to insure long-term contracts.
This happened earlier in the decade as well, and free agent contracts briefly became shorter term. That’s something else to watch this winter, how many players get offered something longer than three years.
Posted by David Pinto at 11:38 am | Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
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