Lincecum asks for $21.5 million

[madinmaryland]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Giants ace Tim Lincecum asked for $21.5 million in salary arbitration Tuesday and was offered $17 million by the club.

The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner's request neared the record amount sought in arbitration. Houston pitcher Roger Clemens asked for $22 million in 2005.

San Francisco's offer was the highest in arbitration history, topping the $14.25 million the New York Yankees proposed for shortstop Derek Jeter in 2001.

"I'm overall optimistic that we'll find common ground without a hearing room," Bobby Evans, Giants vice president of baseball operations, said before seeing Lincecum's filing numbers. "It's a process that begins long before today in terms of conversations about possible deals that work for both sides. That process has continued in a mutual fashion. At this point we haven't reached a conclusion."

Also Tuesday, the Giants and slugger Pablo Sandoval agreed on a $17.15 million, three-year contract. The 25-year-old third baseman became an All-Star last season after losing nearly 40 pounds during a rigorous offseason regimen. He batted .315 with 23 home runs and 70 RBIs in 2011.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/baseball/mlb/01/17/lincecum.giants.ap/index.html#ixzz1jmRx3pA0

[Auggie]

1. What are you going to do but pay it?

Or close to it.

If it were Cleveland they'd trade him for prospects.

[El Supremo]

2. Yup. He's dealing.

What other reason could he have? He's probably building a multimillion dollar tunnel direct to Michoacan!

[nickgutierrez]

3. Lincecum might well win this hearing, if it comes to that.

Two-time Cy Young winner, averaged over a strikeout per inning every year he's been in the majors, and over 210 IP in each of the last four. He would easily get $21.5 on the open market.

I'd bet they settle around $20 million.