The San Francisco Giants have offered a one-year, $17 million deal to ace pitcher Tim Lincecum. The deal is the largest ever for an arbitration offer, breaking the previous record of $14.5 million by the Yankees to Derek Jeter in 2001.
Lincecum is requesting $21.5 million, the second largest in salary arbitration history. Houston Astros pitcher Roger Clemens requested $22 million in 2005. (Clemens ended up getting a little over $18 million.)
If Lincecum does receive his money, he will become the fourth highest paid pitcher in baseball, trailing CC Sabathia of the Yankees ($24.4 million), Cliff Lee of the Phillies ($24 million), and Johan Santana of the Mets ($22.9 million).
Through the first five seasons of his major league career, Lincecum has a 69-42 record with a 2.98 ERA. He led the National League in strikeouts in each of his first three seasons. He has earned four All-Star selections and is the only pitcher in history to win the Cy Young award in each of his first two seasons.
In 2010, he suffered through a 'down' season, winning 16 games with a 3.43 ERA. But he led the Giants to an improbable world championship, winning four of five decisions with a 2.43 ERA.
Last season, he won just 13 of 27 decisions but suffered through the worst run support in the major leagues. He still recorded a 2.74 ERA and finished sixth in the Cy Young voting.
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