MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino-American pitcher Tim Lincecum is seeking a $13-million contract in his third year as pitcher of Major League Baseball (MLB) team San Francisco Giants.

The Giants have made a counter-offer of $8 million, and the 2-time Cy Young Award winner could be headed to contract arbitration hearings.

Lincecum’s agent Rick Thurman told BostonHerald.com "it’s quite clear the case is headed to a hearing."

"I think that’s the direction (a hearing) they’ve wanted this to go from Day 1, simply because there’s been little or no discussions with regards to a contract," he said.

Giants vice president Bobby Evans denied the agent’s claim that the club is seeking a hearing from the beginning. "I respectfully disagree, and I’ll leave it at that," he said.

Major League Baseball is reportedly saving the bigger cases toward the end to minimize the impact on other arbitration proceedings. Lincecum’s case is one of the biggest in the history of arbitrations.

Many consider Lincecum $13 million demand a “record-setting number,” although it is still considered low given today’s standards.

According to BleacherReport.com, both CC Sabathia and Johan Santana make $23 million annually. Roy Halladay makes $20 million; Carlos Zambrano, $18 million; Jake Peavy, $17.3 million; Justin Verlander, $16 million; and, Felix Hernandez, $15.6 million.

Lincecum is known in the baseball scene as "The Franchise" or "The Freak" for his long stride, unorthodox mechanics, and ability to generate a high velocity baseball pitch despite his slight build of 5-foot-11 and 172 pounds.

His pitching repertoire includes a 2-seam fastball that reaches well into the mid-90 mile per hour range, a splitter, a curveball, and a slider.

Unknown to many, he has Filipino blood running in his veins.(http://bleacherreport.com/articles/341831-manny-pacquiao-and-tim-lincecu...)

Lincecum’s mother is a full-blooded Filipina and his father is an American.

He once shared the AT&T Park baseball stadium with 7-time world champion Manny Pacquiao in 2009 when the boxer was promoting his fight against Briton Ricky Hatton.

Pacquiao made the ceremonial pitch while Lincecum acted as the catcher to the delight of baseball fans.