San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum is staying put. The hurler came to a two-year agreement with the Giants and avoided salary arbitration with the club and will instead put his focus towards Spring Training and the 2010 Major League Baseball season. The anticipation of having Lincecum become available on the open market will cease as the ever-improving Giants hope to make a real push towards the postseason and potentially the World Series this year, lead by their young star pitcher.

The wild-haired righty avoided arbitration and signed a two-year, $23 million deal that breaks down as $8 million in 2010, $13 million in 2011, with the remainder split as a bonus between the two years. The Giants reportedly offered a three-year deal worth $37 million, but Lincecum turned down the offer and was began to seek a deal worth in excess of $40 million. He had filed for $13 million through arbitration, but he and the Giants managed to avoid a hearing by inking a deal.

Lincecum is the two-time reigning Cy Young Award winner. He has a career 40-17 record, with a 2.90 ERA. He has struck out 676 batters in his three year career. He was drafted by the Cubs in the forty-eighth round in 2003, didn’t sign, then by the Indians in the forty-second round of 2005, and again didn’t sign. In 2006, he was selected 10thd overall by the Giants and given a $2.025 million signing bonus, the highest ever for an amateur player at that time.

Lincecum and the Giants are both doing everything right. As a 25-year old ace, Lincecum has all of the power when it comes to contract negotiations. Any team would be glad to have him aboard, so signing a short two-year deal allows him to improve his numbers – if possible – as he matures as a pitcher in the big leagues, while the Giants themselves lock up their fan favorite for a couple more years. What becomes of Lincecum over the next two years can only be guessed, but if you guess another Cy Young Award, you may be right.