Giants avoid arbitration with Tim Lincecum

The Giants and Tim Lincecum have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a two year extension worth 23 million dollars. The deal is strikingly similar to the one the Rockies gave Matt Holliday to buy out his final two years of arbitration. 

It looks like the Giants got some bargain, but they did meet in between there two proposals. The Giants offered 8 million dollars and Lincecum countered with 13 million dollars.

The 25-year-old is 40-17 with a 2.90 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over his first 90 major league starts. He has been awarded the NL Cy Young Award twice and will serve as the ace of the Giants' staff in 2010.

The Giants should start working on an extension for the two-time Cy Young winner, who could easily be the most coveted trade target/free agent when he become available.