The San Francisco Giants are down to just two players left to deal with that are arbitration eligible. One of them just so happens to be a two-time Cy Young Award winner. This complicates things.
The Giants and All-Star Tim Lincecum exchanged contract numbers Tuesday afternoon before the filing deadline, with Lincecum asking for a record $21.5 million, while the team countered with a $17 million offer of their own.
Both offers are record-setters for a player in the league less than six years, beating out the $18.5 million Derek Jeter offer from 2011 that was countered with the Yankees $14.25 offer.The Arbitration talks will take place over the course of February.
San Francisco and Lincecum narrowly avoided the negotiation table two years ago when they pulled out a two-year, $23 million deal. If they head there this time around, Lincecum’s mid-point would be $19.25 million.
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