RHP Matt Cain will be staying in San Francisco for the time being. And why not, Cain has been an All-Star, second ace to RHP Tim Lincecum, and postseason hero in the Bay Area. And now Cain has been awarded a big contract for his contributions, past, present, and future.
The extension has netted Cain $127.5 million over the next six years, a record for a right-handed pitcher. Cain had already been guaranteed $12 million this season, but was due to become a free agent at the end of the season. The extension also gives Cain a vesting option for 2018 if he reaches 200 innings pitched in 2017 and/or pitches a combined 400 innings pitched combined in 2016 and 2017.
This long extension comes after Lincecum agreed to a two-year, $40 million extension earlier this off-season. Oh by the way, Cain's record deal for a righty is also the third biggest contract of all-time for a pitcher, behind the ones awarded LHP Johan Santana of the Mets and LHP C. C. Sabathia of the Yankees. The second-largest contract ever awarded a righty was RHP Kevin Brown's seven-year, $105 million contract awarded him by the Dodgers in 1998.
Cain, only 27, went 12-11 with a 2.88 ERA last season and reached 200 innings pitched for the fifth season in a row, after not allowing a run all postseason in 2010 when San Francisco won the World Series. Cain and his agents had intimated that he wanted "fair value" from whatever team gave him a contract, and he was awarded similar money to that of LHP Cliff Lee of Philadelphia and LHP C. J. Wilson and RHP Jerad Weaver of the Angels. GM Brian Sabean said that the contract talks with Cain and his agents were constant and professional.
And look out Philadelphia fans, LHP Cole Hamels now figures to be the top free agent pitcher this season, and he'll probably want a bigger contract than Cain. Not that San Francisco is worried about that, or were they worried about spending top-dollar for Cain, after they signed free agent bust LHP Barry Zito to a seven-year, $126 million deal in 2007. And Cain isn't worried about either of those two things, he's just happy to be staying in San Francisco.
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