[troutman]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/0...l-beltran.html

• “Budget won’t be a factor," said GM Brian Sabean when asked about signing both Cain and Tim Lincecum long-term. "We’ll have enough wherewithal in the budget that we won’t have to pick. Whether that happens, I can’t predict. But we have it in the budget to sign both players.”

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...ecum-long-term

My gut feel is that Cain will indeed sign a long-term deal for five or six years. Look for a deal to be worked out for five years and about $96 million or six years and $115 million.

Cain is a family man and likes the Bay Area and the Giants. That stability is a point in the Giants' favor, but Cain will still be very expensive.

It's doubtful the Giants will be able to do anything with Lincecum's contract this season. That being the case, it will be imperative for the Giants to complete a deal prior to the 2013 season.

Lincecum will be even more expensive than Cain and the Giants will still owe Barry Zito another $27 million heading into the 2013 season. The Giants' ownership group will need to bite the bullet and get a deal done.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/G...cecum-47140066

"The Giants' preference is to sign Timmy long term," Thurman said. "They know where we stand on the issues. Nothing has really changed on our end. Our talks would have to progress further down the line to advance it to more of a long-term negotiation."

Despite the high stakes, the Giants insist they are committed to retaining both Cain and Lincecum, and by all accounts, negotiations have been professional to date.