Tim Lincecum Open to Long-Term Deal

The Giants will have a pretty big decision to make this offseason regarding Tim Lincecum. Do they sign the insanely talented righthander to a long-term contract extension to buy out his arbitration years or do they let him go to arbitration and continue going the one-year contract route to avoid being on the hook for big money if something untoward happens to Lincecum's arm?

You'd imagine they'd opt for the long-term deal, so his answer to a question about a willingness to sign an extension was likely met with some smiles.

Yes," Lincecum said Thursday. "I definitely like San Francisco. I've seen nothing but positive things as far as my personal experiences. It's where I see myself being for awhile."

So the deal's getting done, right? Sadly, it won't be quite that easy for the Giants.

If Lincecum wins a second straight Cy Young come November, the picture will change dramatically. There's never been a pitcher entering arbitration with two awards of that magnitude under his belt which creates the possibility of a massive award that goes far beyond the current record for a pitcher of $6.25 million to Jonathan Papelbon. It also raises the likelihood that that number will continue to go up throughout his arbitration years which, in turn, will send his asking price higher and higher.

Since Zack Greinke has been the best pitcher in the American League this season, his contract is probably a decent jumping off point in discussions of a Lincecum extension. He signed a four-year, $38 million extension before the start of this season, and it's hard to figure that Lincecum would do a deal for a penny less. For one thing, Greinke didn't have a Cy Young (or two) and, for another, Lincecum doesn't have any red flag in his past that approaches Greinke's battle with anxiety disorder.

Most of the above is true even if Lincecum doesn't pick up a second trophy this year, and the results of that voting won't change his status as the cornerstone of the franchise. That has tremendous value and it's no sure thing that the Giants and Lincecum will put the same number on that value.

All of that is going to add up to a hefty salary in 2010, the only question is whether or not Lincecum will be locked up beyond then.