Dodger fan here ! Been a fan for nearly 20 years now, way too long since the glory of 88 !!
Sligtly OT, Amazed to see Tim Lincecum's arbritration figures, The guy is the best Pitcher bar none, I thought it would have been much higher, But as Dodgers fan I aint complaining
(UPDATE: Lincecum reportedly files $13M, Giants $8M) The Lincecum arbitration field guide | Talking Points1:38 p.m. update: SI.com’s Jon Heyman is first to report the filing numbers. He says Lincecum filed for $13M and the Giants filed for $8M. Both a bit lower than expected (especially the Giants’ number), but as I studied the recent history, it was clear that suggestions heading towards $20M were way off base.
These are workable numbers. Figure they can settle before the panel judgment at $10-11M, which would break Ryan Howard’s first-year arbitration record, or they could go to the ruling. And I think Lincecum would win that.
-The figures should be made public in a little while, Giants with one figure that could become Tim Lincecum’s 2010 salary, and Lincecum’s camp with another.
I can’t believe that I’m anticipating the announcement of two monstrous arbitration numbers, neither of which will represent money that I myself can spend, and yet I am very interested.
Many people are interested. Sort of the story of the day, unless Al Davis wakes up in time to tell us what’s up with Tom Cable.
Arbitration numbers. Story of the day. Crazy. And true.
It’s Lincecum arbitration numbers-exchange day, and it’s a big, big story. Nobody has ever gone into arbitration with this kind of mystery–first time filing, two-time Cy Young award winner, a pitcher, the face of the franchise that desperately needs him.
As we head into this, here are some salary landmarks to pay attention to, all according to my own research, so, as always, I might’ve missed somebody:
* $650,000: Lincecum’s salary last year, when the Giants could’ve paid him practically whatever they wanted. Yes, before he was eligible for arbitration.
* $4.4M: The previous largest arbitration award to a first-year eligible starting pitcher, given to Dontrelle Willis in 2006.
* $4.4M: Last year’s highest award, among the three cases that went all the way to a panel decision, given to 2b Dan Uggla of the Marlins.
* $4.7M: The previous largest arbitration award to any starting pitcher, given to Oliver Perez in 2008. (That’s the highest I can find.)
*$6.25M: The highest salary landed by a first-year eligible pitcher of any kind, signed by reliever Jonathan Papelbon when he and the Red Sox settled on a one-year deal before the arbitration hearing.
* $9.5M per year: The average salary Royals starter Zack Greinke signed last January instead of going through arbitration. He signed for four years, $38M.
(The Giants should trade Lincecum for Alex Rios! Just threw that in because I know there will be 10 such comments in about 20 seconds. Thank you for coming!)
* $10M: The highest salary landed by a first-year eligible player, awarded to the Phillies Ryan Howard in 2008 after his 2007 MVP season. (The Phillies submitted $7M and lost.) Howard later signed an extension for three years, $54M.
* $15.6M: The average salary of the reported five-year, $78M deal Felix Hernandez–a close first-year eligibility peer of Lincecum’s–just agreed to with Seattle.
–OOPS UPDATE: Though King Felix is 2 years younger than Lincecum, he actually is TWO YEARS AHEAD of Lincecum on the service timetable (but only one year ahead on the arbitration timetable, thanks to Lincecum’s Super-2 status. Arrgh, complicated. Super-2 status ONLY refers to arbitration, however, not the free-agent countdown.)
Hernandez was eligible for arbitration last year (settled with Seattle) and would’ve hit free agency after the 2011 season if he hadn’t signed this deal, which eats up two years of arbitration and three more of potential free-agent years.
Lincecum, 25, won’t be eligible for free agency until after the 2013 season. This affects his status relative to Hernandez’s deal–Hernandez is eating up free-agent years, which increases his value right now.
* $18M: The figure filed by Howard in 2009, before agreeing to the extension.
* $18M: Barry Zito’s average annual salary.
* $18.5M: The highest figure ever submitted, by Derek Jeter in 2001, before he agreed to a 10-year, $189M deal with the Yankees.
* $23M: The average salary for CC Sabathia, the highest for a pitcher.
I think Hernandez’s $15.6M average will be a VERY important new landmark for the Lincecum camp–how can he ask for a lower salary than what Hernandez just got?
My guesses:
-Lincecum submits $16M, gets him over the Hernandez line and gives the Lincecum camp room to compromise somewhere around $14M.
-The Giants submit $11M, gets them over the Howard line and gives them room to compromise somewhere above $13M.
