Lincecum signs multi-year deal with Giants

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Pitcher Tim Lincecum has avoided arbitration after agreeing a multi-year contract with the San Francisco Giants, the team said on Friday.

Terms were not disclosed but the San Francisco Chronicle said on its website (http://www.sfgate.com) the right-hander would earn $23 million over two years.

Lincecum, 25, had filed for $13 million this season through the arbitration process and the Giants had countered with $8 million.

The pitcher posted a 15-7 record with a 2.48 earned run average last year. He is 40-17 in three years with the Giants.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina, editing by Tony Jimenez)