Tim Lincecum will be able to pay off a lot of civil infraction fines for weed if he wins in arbitration. The two-time Cy Young winner is seeking $13 million for the upcoming season. The Giants have offered him only $8 million so the two sides will sort it out next month. Though, many cases are settled prior to hearings.
The current record of $10 million for belongs to Alfonso Soriano and Francisco Rodriguez (who both lost) along with Ryan Howard, who won his case in 2008. In Lincecum’s case, he can receive either the low-ball $8 million or his entire $13 million as requested. There’s no slicing it down the middle at this point. Either way, he will shatter the $6.5 million mark for first-year eligible pitchers set by Jonathan Papelbon. Though, the middle point does play a role in determining what he will be paid. From the San Jose Mercury News:
A second executive said the key to the case is the midpoint between the player and the team — in other words, $10.5 million. In a hearing, the executive said, Lincecum’s camp will have to prove that “he’s worth $1 more than $10.5 million and the Giants will have to prove that he’s worth $1 less.” That’s the tipping point for the arbitrator.
“$10.5 million is the magic number,” the executive said.
Lincecum’s request for $13 million is considered “unusually high” but some thought he might ask for more. The problem is that submitting $20 million means you have to prove you’re worth it — or settle for MUCH less cash. Asking for $13 million signals that Lincecum expects the case to advance to a point where they can defend the figure and win. Lince will certainly have a good shot since Felix Hernandez just signed a deal paying him over $15 million per year.
Tags: 2010, arbitration, baseball, contract, MLB, salary, san francisco giants, tim lincecum
