They call Tim Lincecum the Freak for his unusual delivery, but the nickname may also apply when it comes to contract talks. While most players are eager to sign their first long-term deal, the Giants’ two-time Cy Young winner told Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle that he feels most comfortable on one or two-year contracts.
"It's just easier for me mentally not to have to put that kind of pressure on yourself," he said. "Not that you don't want to succeed, but when you're signed to a long-term deal, it's like saying, 'I'm going to live up to every expectation.' That's why I like going year to year, so I can improve on it and not sit on what I've done."
Lincecum still has two years of arbitration eligibility after this season and he says he’d be open to a two-year deal similar to the one that bought out his first two seasons of arbitration eligibility. He says he likes the two-year, $23MM contract he signed before the 2010 season, since it allowed him to move gradually through the arbitration process. But if the Giants make an aggressive long-term offer, the Beverly Hills Sports Council client will listen.
"It all depends on how they come after me," he told Schulman. "If it's aggressive, obviously I want to take that into consideration and talk about it with my agent and see what he thinks is good. I haven't dismissed anything."
Lincecum says he isn’t sure how he’ll feel in three or five years and added that he isn’t worried about the Giants’ offense, which currently ranks last in the National League in runs scored.
When MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes previewed Lincecum’s arbitration case in May, the agents he surveyed suggested a 2012 salary in the $19-22MM range would be fair assuming a “normal season.” The 27-year-old right-hander has a 2.59 ERA with 9.2 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 212 innings and though he won’t win the Cy Young Award he has set himself up for $20MM-plus in 2012 and even more in 2013. In other words, Lincecum gets as much guaranteed money going year to year as many pitchers obtain on multiyear deals in free agency.
Considering his body type and the fact he’s allegedly an eventual injury concern, I would be looking for that big deal if I were Lincecum.
Injury’s a concern in every signing of a pitcher. Signing a short term has three unique advantages for Lincecum,
1. Guarantees he will hit free agency at a relitively young age (31-32?) allowing him to sign a big dollar-long term deal. (think CC if he opts out)
2. He could avoid being stuck in a loseing sutuation, if he signs for three and the teams outlook begins to look bleek after 2 he could avoid rebuilding years and maximize his chances to win without being traded. (think Oswalt before getting traded to Philly).
3. He could avoid the negitive perseption and fan backlash that would come with a Major Injury/Opt out/Ineffectiveness situation. (Think of Zito/Lackey/Hampton hybrid with a little CC(if he does opt out and leaves New York)).
Should have stayed in school.
I’m not sure how true this statement is but my buddy went to high school with Lincecum. He told me that Lincecum’s father is an engineer. Before Lincecum was born his father and all of his engineer buddies worked to develop the perfect pitching motion as to put the least amount of stress on the arm. Long story short, if any of this is true, his pitching motion should actually make him less injury prone then any other pitcher considering how he uses forward momentum and thrust (although I do understand that every pitcher eventually becomes an injury concern).
Just another reason to dig Lincecum, great player.
If you’re in his position, and you’ve made more money already than you could ever spend, why put the type of pressure on yourself that comes with a multi-year mega-contract?
The dude is set for life. He doesn’t need to do that to himself.
No… the demand for quality pitchers like himself keeps rising, as will his salary. If he keeps up his performance, he’ll make more this way.
It is admirable though…
assuming he stays healthy (and does not become a mark prior).
I love Timmy, but I disagree.
– B. Zito
Haha!
I hate baseball economics. $20 million is a ton of money for working 6 months out of the year.
$20MM is an insane amount of money for working an entire lifetime.
If you worked from age 20 to age 65 and made $20MM, your average salary would have been about $450K.
Tells you a lot about what is really valued in our society, huh?
And we wonder why our educational system goes right down the drain.
That is just mind blowing…
you don’t think timmy’s ever gotten advice from barry zito? as much as we hate zito, the $120+M we spent on him could be partially recovered by panda hat revenues (zito coined the nickname) and potentially not locking timmy down for 4 years too many.
Posturing at its finest
Lock up Cain, Giants. It looks like Tim will be getting a Sabathia-esque contract when he hits FA, something you should avoid, like Zito.
I’m not saying Tim well ever produce(well, not produce, in this case) like Zito does, but, if he needs TJS and never comes back the same with that contract already glued to him, the “torture” will continue and maybe become even worse.
Good man! Thanks lincy, u just gained a lot of respect
Is it just me, or could he be saying this because he wants to leave SF as soon as he can? What I got from his comments were the following. “Give me money, a lot of money now for the next 2 years, and when I hit free agency in two years I can make even more with the Yankees or Red Sox because they also have an offence.”
I have always wondered how happy he is in San Francisco(i can only bet you how pissed off Cain is pitching for the Giants), I’m on the east coast so I don’t see him much.
You’re probably right. He must hate the place where he won the Cy Young in his first two full seasons, a World Series title in his third full season and is completely and utterly revered by the hometown crowd.
Cain is one of the few Giants that actually lives in the city of San Francisco. He purchased a house and I’m pretty sure he loves the city. He is also the longest tenured Giant and probably the teams biggest leader.
He’s so protected from the media in the SF Clubhouse that I really have my doubts his social-anxiety, loner issues are going to play well in the AL East, but who knows, he is getting a little better at it every year. He’s not at the Greinke level.
He’s so protected from the media in the SF Clubhouse that I really have my doubts his social-anxiety, loner issues are going to play well in the AL East, but who knows, he is getting a little better at it every year. He’s not at the Greinke level.
Just too let you all know….Tim Lincecum if he ever becomes a free agent will NEVER go too the East Coast…he has comeout publicly and stated he does not like pitching on the East Coast…hates cold weather and wants too be close too home (Seattle area). He will stay in California or Seattle. He also stated that he loves living in SF and wouldn’t live anywhere else…..so I don’t know….
Never is a very strong word, especially with the mammoth contracts NY and Boston will offer. It is very easy to come out and say these things when he can’t have offers from these teams, but not many people will turn down that type of money. And let us not forget that when he becomes a FA he will have Union pressure to take as large of a contract as possible to set the bar for the next generation for aces.
C.C. Sabathia said those same things then the Yankees offered him a contract he couldn’t refuse
no he said he hated hot weather which is why he likes San Francisco a lot otherwise everything you said is right. He can’t stand pitching in really hot temperatures and he also hates the media.
“he isn’t worried about the Giants’ offense, which currently ranks last in the National League in runs scored.”
Hey Dodger fan…..go out and get a stable owner and then talk……no matter what you think…the Giants will stay in front of the Dodgers in the standings…….especially since you have a crappy manager and gm…….maybe he will sign Ross/Whiteside and Rowand this offseason!!
CRAPPY manager? Didn’t you watch last night’s game, Jim? THEY GOT TOMMY BACK!!!!! hahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
good observation..at least you guys are a game over .500 now.
They will have $$ too spend this off season and will make significant changes. Jonathan Sanchez will be traded for a big bat and don’t be surprised if they go after one of the big FA’s such as Pujols/Fielder/Reyes. Ross will be coming off the books and Huff might be traded as well since they have Belt and Pill who can play that position and/or OF. If they can’t get Fielder, I would resign Beltran and go after Reyes and Cuddyer. That lineup can win you some games and the division if it came too fruition.
SS Reyes
2B Sanchez
RF Beltran
3B Sandoval
C Posey
LF Cuddyer
CF Torres/Schierholtz
1B Belt/Pill
UTL Keppinger/Burris/Burrell/Stewart
SP Lincecum/Cain/Surkamp/Vogelsong/Zito
I was under the impression Jonathan Sanchez would be non tendered and what team would trade a big bat for a guy who can’t throw strikes and is a headcase?
I wouldn’t be shocked to see them go after Pujols/Fielder though.
They won’t non tender him…for the reason he is a LH Power Pitcher with great stuff/young but a head case….How bout too the Marlins for Hanley Ramirez??? He just won’t be non tendered…
Did you just seriously suggest that Jonathan Sanchez is worth Hanley Ramierz?
He sounds like Oliver Perez to me. Would you trade Hanley Ramirez for Oliver Perez?
I understand your point but he has no trade value. I’m sure teams would love to “fix” him but they’re not going to give anything of value for him. More than likely Jonathan Sanchez will be non tender and a team like the Mets will sign him or the Giants will resign him for a lesser price tag.
I think you’re forgetting a Mad Bum.
Your right…my bad…
Please insert him instead of Zito…what the hell was I thinking
I think you may be forgetting that they have quite a few players getting raises next year (Cain jumps up by 8 mil). Plus, they will have Lincecum who will probably get at least 5 mil more. They do have some money coming off the books but they will need to trade Huff but they may have to eat a bit of his salary.
Don’t forget Sandoval is also arbitration eligible and will be looking for around 3.5-4 million at least which is significantly higher than the 500k he makes this year. Pretty much all the money coming off the books is going right back into raises for current players, so unless the Giants significantly increase payroll they won’t be able to sign any big name free agents.
They did make the mistake this year by standing pat with that team. I just hope and pray they don’t go after Jimmy Rollins…..I would rather have Reyes anyday of the week. Even with the Zito contract, they will and do have $$$$ too spend. They are one of the few MLB teams with there own TV contract and have all the merchandise$$ as well as attendance $$ from this season.
You are absolutely delusional if you believe the Giants can:
a) trade the floundering, soon to be (2013) free agent, Sanchez for a big bat.
b) sign Beltran, Reyes, and Cuddyer. They will be hard pressed to acquire even one of those three
They’ve also got a massive mortgage on a stadium that eats a major portion of the payroll potential.
But what about all those Panda hats they’re selling?
This news would make me very nervous if I’m in the Giants FO.
why? it won’t cost them much more and it limits their risk, too
No long term extension = he’s dropping a hint he wants to test the open market in two years = he could be a goner in 2 years.
Let Timmy smoke!
Unless he becomes a raging drug addict or Lenny Dykstra, I doubt he’ll be regretting his arbitration numbers in the tens of millions.
He may, however, regret foregoing the security of a long term deal. As I mentioned above, most experts and scouts cite Lincecum as an eventual injury concern. The last thing he needs is to end up needing Tommy John surgery in between contracts.
Yeah, most of those ‘expert’ scouts are the same ones that advised that he shouldn’t be taken early in the 2006 draft. Oops!!
The guy’s a full body pitcher with a great deal of flexibility, he’s not a total injury risk, scouts just don’t like him cause he’s unconventional. and he’s made enough money to live comfortably for the rest of his life without the need for the long term contract security. Any money above 20-25 million is just gravy.
no not an idiot…..anyteam….and I mean anyteam…would love too have a flame throwing young LH SP who will be under contract…so no you are wrong buddy…but its all good….
And a life time supply of Philly Blunts
he rolls nick swisher
Totally concur with you, Tom. He might regret it but what’s to say his delivery is any different/worse than anyone else’s. Based on what scientific fact? Most experts and scouts might site as an eventual injury concern but based on what? The only that might change is his flexibility as he gets older … which is required with the form that he’s using to pitch with.
You’re wrong about this Jonathan Sanchez thing. He is no longer young, as he’ll be 29 in 2012. He just had the worst season of his career. If he is even tendered a contract (not a gimme), which would require the Giants to pay him at least $5MM next year, 2012 will be the last year of arbitration for him. Meaning he will be a free agent after next year. So, no, he’s not really “under contract” either. Your flame-thrower assertion is also incorrect, as his overall decline in fastball velocity has continued to the point where he averaged less than 90mph this season. He also happened to lead ALL MAJOR LEAGUE PITCHERS in walk rate. None of these things endear a pitcher to other teams that are looking to trade their “big bat.” The Giants would be lucky to get a B prospect for him right now, as most teams would probably rather wait and see if he is just simply non-tendered first.
lay off the crack pipe my man..
thank you
do you really not believe there’s a scientific basis for the emphasis on pitching mechanics? it’s just a freak accident every time pitchers blowout their arms?
Feel bad for Tim. When he finally gets an injury that any pitcher could easily get, a bunch of people are going to come out of the woodwork and act like its his mechanics. Theroies and studies that can vary from team to another, thats whats out there. To call it a science would be giving it way too much credit, and would be acting like its a lot more proven than it really is.Gymnast-level flexibillity gives you the freedom to have difficult mechanics and make a career of it. That can go over time, but everyone who played the sure-fire injury card would have laughed at the idea that Lincecum would throw 1,000-Plus innings at this point, and almost always be at the top, or near the top of overall pitches year in, and year out.
And still no trips to the DL.
Feel bad for Tim. When he finally gets an injury that any pitcher could easily get, a bunch of people are going to come out of the woodwork and act like its his mechanics. Theroies and studies that can vary from team to another, thats whats out there. To call it a science would be giving it way too much credit, and would be acting like its a lot more proven than it really is.Gymnast-level flexibillity gives you the freedom to have difficult mechanics and make a career of it. That can go over time, but everyone who played the sure-fire injury card would have laughed at the idea that Lincecum would throw 1,000-Plus innings at this point, and almost always be at the top, or near the top of overall pitches year in, and year out.
And still no trips to the DL.
A “Freak” accident with no pun intended.