Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants Contract Talks “Ongoing”

This weekend we heard that the San Francisco Giants and former Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum are expected to reach a two-year contract agreement.  While much contract talk has surrounded Lincecum, the Giants have another top-of-the-rotation starter coming to the end of his current deal; Matt Cain.  Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com is reporting that, while they’re not expecting to reach a long-term deal with Lincecum this offseason, the Giants are still optimistic that they’ll be able to lockup Cain.

It’s being reported that the Giants and Lincecum have turned their attention from a mega-deal to a more reasonable two-year agreement in the $40 million range.  Sides are said to be $4 million apart at the moment, which has many expecting a deal to ultimately be reached.

Much of the focus has been on Lincecum, and this may be a result of the Giants reported optimism concerning Cain and his pending contract.  Heyman reports that talks between the Giants and Cain are ongoing and that San Francisco likes their chances of keeping the righty “on a long-term deal for under $20 million a year”.

Some around the game have told Heyman that they believe Cain could match the five-year, $120 million deal Cliff Lee got if he hits the free agent market.  However, Cain is said to “badly” want to remain in San Francisco for the long haul.

Since making his major league debut with the Giants as a 20-year-old in 2005, Cain has maintained a career ERA and WHIP of 3.35 and 1.196.  The 27-year-old is coming off one of his best seasons as he went 12-11 with a 2.88 ERA and 1.083 WHIP over his 33 starts and 221 2/3 innings pitched in 2011.

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