This seems a little far fetched. It is like a 3rd order reason (at best!) to want to keep Lincecum's salary down. Also, if this were true, it would require a lot of smarts and forethought. And well, you know...
Debunking the myth that not having a salary cap will hurt small market teams. An in-depth study.
Does Dunta Robinson get franchise tagged today? If so, does the tag stick, or is a long-term deal on the horizon?