Shea says a source told him the Giants have made a three year $37 million offer with annual salaries of $9.5 million, $12.5 million and $15 million. Team Lincecum countered with a proposal north of $40 million.
If they don’t work out a deal by Friday. The case will go to an arbitration hearing. Then it will be decided if Lincecum should be paid what Team Lincecum submitted ($13 million) or what the Giants submitted ($8 million).
SIDE NOTES
Bobby Evans said the Giants view Todd Wellemeyer as a long reliever, but he also could be available to start if there’s a need. If he makes the team, Wellemeyer would make $1 million. He would also have a chance for an additional $500,000 in performance bonuses.
King of Cali thoughts: It would be nice to see a multi-year deal worked out, but the clock is ticking. They have a hearing set for tomorrow if nothing is worked out. If the Giants can’t get this multi-year deal with Lincecum. They should just walk into the hearing tomorrow and say we will pay $13 million without a fight. That’s still nothing compared to what he would be worth as a free agent. Let’s just keep him happy, and be thankful we have him.
As for Wellemeyer being viewed as a long reliever, that’s perfect! That’s exactly how I would like to see him used. I really don’t think he can beat out Madison Bumgarner for the fifth spot in the rotation. Wellemeyer would be a decent spot starter if needed as well. Spring Training is getting closer and closer Giants fans. Let’s get this season started already!
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Arbitration, Bobby Evans, Free Agents, King of Cali, Madison Bumgarner, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum, Todd Wellemeyer
Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports says (via twitter) he’s hearing Tim Lincecum’s hearing is Friday. He said neither side has budged, and wondering why the Giants are picking this fight?
King of Cali thoughts: I’m with Tim on this one. The Giants just need to give him the $13 million. He’s worth it, and that’s still getting off cheap for one year. He’s won two Cy Young Awards, and is the ace of your pitching staff. He puts fans in the seats every night he’s on the mound. They need to just fork out the money, and keep him happy. Only ill feelings come out of arbitration hearings.
UPDATE
Mychael Urban said (via twitter) the Giants have signed Todd Wellemeyer. He has a non-roster spot with an invite to camp.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Arbitration, Free Agents, Giants, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum, Todd Wellemeyer
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News says Tim Lincecum’s agent and the Giants have not engaged in significant contract negotiations. He’s convinced the two-time CY Young award winner’s arbitration case will reach the hearing stage. Lincecum’s agent said the Giants have not discussed a one-year deal and talks have been limited to “some very insignificant two-year conversations.”
Update
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says it appears the Giants and Lincecum won’t be agreeing on any long-term deal. The pitcher will have to “settle” for whatever the arbitration panel concludes. King of Cali thoughts (on the update): Let’s just give him the $13 million and move on. We don’t want any hard feelings because of the arbitration case with our Ace!
King of Cali thoughts: Lincecum is the only Giants player that is still going through the arbitration process. However this story ends. He’s going to be getting paid. We know the most he’s going to get paid this year is going to be $13 million if this goes to arbitration. I’m sure the Giants would like to lock him up to a longer term deal soon, but if they don’t. He’s still under the teams control for four more seasons. Being a pitcher and going year-to-year in arbitration can be dangerous. You never know when a pitcher can mess up his arm. If I was part of Team Lincecum. I would be trying to push for a multi-year deal, so he can have some security. If you were part of team Lincecum. What would your strategy be?
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Arbitration, Free Agents, Giants Rumors, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
Chris Haft of MLB.com reports that the Giants and Brian Wilson have reached an agreement. Which means they will be avoiding arbitration. Wilson will be making nearly $4.5 million ($4,437,500).
King of Cali thoughts: This comes as no surprise since we knew the Giants and Wilson were not that far apart in arbitration numbers. Wilson has some shaky outings, but for the most part he does seem to get the job done.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Arbitration, Brian Wilson, Free Agents, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors
Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Giants and Tim Lincecum need to find the right multi-year deal to 
satisfy both sides. Heyman says their is no sense risking a loss in arbitration if you’re Lincecum.
King of Cali thought: The Giants have two players that are going through the arbitration process. These players are Lincecum and Brian Wilson. Lincecum has submitted $13 million and the Giants submitted $8 million. They are $5 million apart, so I’m sure they will be able to work out a deal for around $11 million. Even if this case goes through the whole process. I still think paying Lincecum $13 million is worth it. Whatever amount he gets paid this year is going to be well deserved.
Lincecum is really in a tough spot as far as I’m concerned. Yes, he’s a great pitcher. Yes, he’s going to get a big raise every year in arbitration. The problem is what if he gets hurt and his career is over? Then he just has this one year deal worth $13 million the max. He may want to consider signing a long term deal. Yes he will get under market value, but at least he will have all that money guaranteed for however many years. Just something I would really think about if I was him. You never know when something might get tweaked, and you may never be the same.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Arbitration, Brian Wilson, Free Agents, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
Chris Haft of MLB.com says the Giants and Jonathan Sanchez have agreed on a one-year contract. The deal is for $2.1 million. Sanchez went 8-12 with a 4.24 ERA in 32 appearances. He did pitch San Francisco’s first no-hitter in 33 years over the San Diego Padres on July 10th.
The Giants are expected to exchange salary figures later Tuesday with their two most pricey arbitration-eligible performers: Tim Lincecum and Brian Wilson.
King of Cali thoughts: We all know that all these arbitration guys are going to get raises. $2.1 million for J-Sanchez isn’t bad. I mean his win/loss and ERA is nothing to write home about, but the potential is there. He gets a lot of swings and misses. Plus he’s also got a no-hitter under his belt. I’m sure he’s going to be pitching with a lot more confidence this year.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Arbitration, Brian Wilson, Free Agents, Giants, Jonathan Sanchez, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
Jon Heyman of SI.com said (via twitter) that he heard filing numbers for Tim Lincecum. Lincecum submitted $13 million and the Giants submitted $8 million.
Heyman tweeted again saying his early prediction: Tim will settle at $10.5 million or slightly above it. That’s the midpoint.
King of Cali thoughts: We all know whatever deal they end up with. It will be well deserved. Lincecum is worth $13 million to me, so that’s a fair submission for team Lincecum. We all knew the Giants would submit something a lot lower. This is so they can have a midpoint, and hopefully get a deal done before the arbitration hearing.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Arbitration, Free Agents, Giants, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports that the Giants and Brandon Medders agreed on a one-year contract for $820,000, avoiding salary arbitration.
Medders went 5-1 with a 3.01 ERA and 1 save in 61 games while earning $475,000.
King of Cali thoughts: Medders did a great job last year, so his raise is well deserved. It’s always better for teams to sign players before the arbitration hearings. I just don’t like the idea of a player submitting his worth and the team saying his worth less. Just seems like only bad feelings can come of that no matter who wins the hearing. The Giants still have three players that are arbitration eligible. Those players are Jonathan Sanchez, Brian Wilson and Tim Lincecum.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Arbitration, Brandon Medders, Brian Wilson, Free Agents, Jonathan Sanchez, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle posts on the Giants Splash blog. Tim Lincecum made his major-league debut on May 6, 2007 on national TV against the Phillies. Had the date been May 14, the Giants would have saved millions.
The cut off to be eligible for arbitration is two years and 141 days of service. Lincecum has 2 years and 148 days. Which means he past the cut off and now is arbitration-eligible. Had Lincecum fallen short of arbitration, the Giants could have renewed his contract themselves.
As Brian Sabean correctly suggested, the union probably will discourage any such talks. Because Lincecum won a Cy Young so early in his career, his arbitration case would set a substantial record for a Super Two pitcher’s salary even if he loses the case. That’s why the union loves arbitration.
Technorati Tags: Arbitration, Brian Sabean, Giants, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
