Reports: Giants Sign Pence, Lincecum Next?

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports first reported that the San Francisco Giants and outfielder Hunter Pence have agreed on a five-year, $90 million dollar deal. Heyman also says that sources revealed to him that the deal includes a full no-trade clause. Finalization of the deal is pending a physical.

Odd. Pence isn’t going to test the market. Must believe the Giants will come back next season and/or that content in the Bay Area.

A quick observation by Dave Cameron on Fangraphs…

"Swisher got 4/56. Pence got 5/90. Pence is a hitting free agency a year younger and is coming off a significantly better walk year season, so it’s not a surprise that Pence got more than Swisher."

With the Pence deal reportedly completed, the market may now be set for other potential free agent outfielders such as Jacoby Ellsbury and Shin-Soo Choo. Pence will be 31 next April. Ellsbury won’t be 31 until next September while Choo will be 32 next July. It’s highly likely Ellsbury will land the biggest deal of these three.

But now must we consider that Scott Boras wasn’t as crazy as some thought stating Choo should get five years for $100 million? Don’t think Choo will, but he could see something close as far as average ($18 million per).

Pence has bounced back this season to the tune of a triple slash of .282/.339/.481 with 26 HR and 94 RBI. He has also swiped 22 bags on 25 attempts. And he has two games left to play.

And the Giants might not be done bringing some guys back.

Moments ago, Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle sent this…

Both Pence and Lincecum are represented by the Beverly Hills Sports Council.

The two-time NL Cy Young winner has struggled that last couple of seasons (20-29, 4.76 ERA, 1.389 WHIP), but during last year’s playoffs was a weapon for Bruce Bochy. In the NLDS and World Series, Lincecum was masterful out of the Giants pen (11 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 16 SO).