The Giants didn't want to risk losing Tim Lincecum in free agency and tonight, they gave the 29-year-old a lucrative two-year, $35MM deal. The deal isn't just a financial windfall for The Freak, it could mean higher paydays for several of this winter's top free agent starters. Here's a look at some of the reactions to the agreement..
- The two-year, $35MM deal could really boost the total price tag for Japanese standout Masahiro Tanaka, tweets Ben Badler of Baseball America. Tanaka is considered by some to be the best available starter on the open market this offseason.
- The deal is also good news for Ubaldo Jimenez, notes MLBTR's Tim Dierkes (via Twitter). Jimenez is another free agent pitcher who reached great heights and had his fair share of struggles but managed to rebound in his walk year. The right-hander posted a 3.30 ERA with 9.6 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in 182 2/3 innings for Cleveland this year.
- If you're going by the advanced numbers, it's possible that bad luck contributed a full run to Lincecum's ERA over the last two seasons, writes Rob Neyer of SBNation. If that's the case, then the 29-year-old could be worth the two-year, $35MM price tag. While Neyer is a big believer in sabermetrics, he's less than confident that this deal will work out for GM Brian Sabean.
- Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle (Sulia link) isn't exaclty sure how to feel about the deal, but he has a reality check for fans who have panned the deal as an overpayment. San Francisco's rotation would have been in rough shape sans Lincecum and beyond that, teams are flush with cash this winter thanks to increased TV revenues.
- Lincecum's 4.76 ERA and drop in fastball velocity from 92.2 to 90.2 mph makes the deal a head-scratcher in the view of ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter).
