Dodgers, Giants should open bank for Kershaw, Lincecum

I'll never claim to be a baseball economist. I'm a baseball fan. I look at a player, I think he's good, and I think he should get paid.
Of course, it's never that easy. But I think it IS that simple in the case of a couple young NL West studs named Clayton Kershaw and Tim Lincecum.

Kershaw, only 23, is coming off a Cy Young campaign in which he looked unhittable at times. There have been comparisons between Kershaw and a young Sandy Koufax over the last couple years, which made me shudder. After last season, I still think that's a stretch -- but it's not as far-fetched as I once believed.

The young lefty has a maturity rarely seen in someone his age. He handles himself like a seasoned professional on the field, always with class, and he's clearly a role model for young people off the field with his charity work and wholesome reputation. Quite simply, he's somebody a franchise should build around.

In my opinion, the Dodgers should lock him up with a long-term contract now. Sure, he's not eligible for free agency until after the 2015 campaign, and there's always the risk of injury, regression, etc. I get that. ... But Kershaw looks like one of those "once in a generation" pitchers, somebody who even at 23 has Cooperstown written all over him. The Dodgers should talk long-term contract with him right now.

Instead, they're willing to let him go through the annual arbitration circus, even low-balling him with a $6.5 million offer when he's probably the best pitcher in baseball right now. ... Just pay him.

The Giants find themselves in a similar position with Lincecum. The two-time Cy Young winner isn't eligible for free agency until after the 2013 season, and when there's discussion of a long-term contract, the slender righty is looking for something in the area of eight years. The Giants have balked at that.

For Lincecum, there are some fears that at 28, he's heading the wrong direction. He was only 13-14 last season, his strikeouts per nine innings have declined each of the past three seasons, and his walks have increased. There's also talk he's lost something off his fastball.

But let's face it, with the Giants' atrocious offense, Lincecum must feel as if he has to be perfect every time out. He doesn't believe he can make a single mistake, because his offense can't overcome it. He's still a dominant pitcher, and teams will be lined up around the corner to acquire him when he becomes a free agent -- or possibly even if the Giants decide to trade him instead of waiting to lose him in free agency. It's a distinct possibility.

The Giants haven't been able to work anything out with Lincecum, so they appear headed to arbitration, where Lincecum is asking for $21.5 million. The Giants have countered with a $17 million offer.

Again, just pay him.

Pitchers like these guys are hard to find. Most teams would kill to run Kershaw or Lincecum out to the mound every fourth or fifth day. The Dodgers and Giants simply need to start looking at the future and pay up -- because wouldn't it stink to see either one of these guys pitching for the Yankees or Red Sox someday?