After sitting out the 2017 season, right-hander Tim Lincecum is working out with the trainers at Driveline Baseball and will showcase for interested teams “in the near future,” per an announcement from Driveline (on Twitter). Intrigue around Lincecum picked up earlier today when fellow Driveline client Adam Ottavino posted a picture of Lincecum on Instagram.
Lincecum looks to be in excellent physical condition, though it’s certainly best to temper expectations regarding his ability to contribute on the field. Lincecum didn’t pitch in the Majors, minors or in any other professional capacity in 2017, and his 2016 run with the Angels following 2015 hip surgery was an unmitigated disaster.
In Lincecum’s last run through MLB, he logged a 9.16 ERA with 7.5 K/9, 5.4 BB/9 and a staggering 2.58 HR/9 through 38 1/3 innings with the Halos. His average fastball in that time was just 87.7 mph — nearly seven full miles per hour off he 94.2 mph that he averaged as a 23-year-old rookie one decade ago.
Yahoo’s Jeff Passan tweets that Lincecum is “throwing hard again,” though he didn’t put a specific number on the two-time NL Cy Young winner’s velocity at present. Restored velocity, of course, could be a huge boon for Lincecum, who’ll turn 34 next June. Lincecum established himself as one of the game’s most dominant pitchers quickly after debuting and held that status from 2008-11 before beginning to decline in 2012. Perhaps not surprisingly, the first significant drop-off in performance for Lincecum came when his average fastball plummeted from 92.3 mph in 2011 to 90.4 mph in 2012.
Lincecum figures to be of some degree of interest to most clubs, as there’d be little reason not to at least have a scout or two watch a workout to see if there’s any indications of a potential return to form. It’d be unrealistic to hope for his 2008-09 dominance (2.55 ERA, 10.5 K/9, back-to-back Cy Young Awards), but a rejuvenated Lincecum could conceivably contribute to a big league rotation all the same.
Presumably, he’ll field predominantly minor league offers, though it’s possible that he drums up enough interest to secure a 40-man roster spot with a low base salary and a healthy pile of incentives based on appearances and/or innings pitched. By the time Opening Day rolls around, it will have been six full seasons since “The Freak” was an above-average contributor in a Major League rotation, though recent resurgences from the likes of Scott Kazmir and Rich Hill (among others) serve as reminders that it’s virtually never too late to rule out a comeback — especially for a player that won’t turn 34 until next summer.
Take 2… hopefully Giants give him a minor league deal
Yes!! Now that Moore is gone, what harm could there be in giving him a shot. Plus with Cain gone, could use a dose of 2010 nostalga.
if he will work in the pen it wouldn’t be a bad idea
Stick a fork in him!
Bring him back to SF
Signs with Rockies
Orioles
The worst idea of the off-season goes to…
he’s been hitting the gym, holy cow, he’s big
Price of weed must have gone up significantly!!
My guess is his downfall was caused from a lot more than just weed….
Actually I think smoking weed every day is enough to ruin an athletic career, particularly if the person is a phenomenal athletic to begin with.
?
I’d take Lincecum’s career over most pitchers’…
Actually, lincecum didn’t start to struggle until he quit smoking after getting in trouble. Weed didn’t ruin his career, it helped it. The medieval marijuana laws in this country ruined his career. Some people need different things to make it click in their head. That’s why there are tens of thousands of different drugs. Take your 1940s self off the internet.
Amen!
I don’t think it hurt or helped his career.
Wow, that sounds really intelligent — “the laws” ruined his career. He of course had nothing to do with it.
Yes, prohibiting a useful natural medication that does actually help people just so some pharmaceutical companies can make a profit off unnecessary chemical based medications does hurt a lot of people’s careers, not just athletes.
Wait so Lincecum smoked weed in preparation for his starts or when?
Nobody has any hard proof either way.
Finally someone with a brain speaks!
He made a 100 mil in his career
Best of luck, Tim. Would be a good comeback story.
No expectations, but would be so cool if he managed at least one more solid/strong season.
He was always fun to watch; it is a shame how quickly things fell apart for him; and as a fan of the opposition, I always hated when the Phillies faced him, which is about the highest praise I can give.
His 2 head-to-head matchups with Roy Halladay in the 2010 NLCS were classic. (Still can’t believe Doc is gone.)
He deserves to come back
I used to love watching him pitch when espn had him on tv or when he faced the Mets. His body type screamed his type of regression sadly. Hopefully he can reinvent himself !
Omar Vizquel, who was Timmie’s SS for several reasons, said the same thing.
I’ll be interested to see if he adjusted his mechanics. It was always said that once he hit the wall with his mechanics, the fall would be steep, and that proved true. Never been a big fan, but with all he accomplished, a chance to finish his career on a much brighter not would be cool to see. Wish him luck in his efforts.
Heard he was revving it up to like 83 on the gun. Sounds intriguing.
If Timmy is back in decent form SF would be insane not to sign him on a minors deal. They need all the depth they can get.
Just the type of guy the Padres need to sign. Minor league contract invite to spring training and incentives.
Dude is shredded now lol
This. Wonder what “supplements” he’s taking.
Could it just be exercise and protein? Maybe hard work and a desire to compete?
@shoheiotahnyy – he’s always been capable of this level of fitness. there are pictures of him with his shirt off while he was still with the Giants where we was very muscular.
Every team should want him on a minor-league deal.
So, save your team sounding special.
Agreed Tim.
Should have never received his second Cy Young…wainwright was ripped off
Not quite. Lincecum had a lower ERA, WHIP, much higher K rate, and a similar walk rate. Wainwright wasn’t even the best pitcher on his own team that year.
Um, no. The ONLY statistical advantage that Wainwright had over Lincecum was 8 more innings pitched. Lincecum had him smoked in ERA, ERA+, WHIP, K, etc.
Big Time Timmy Jim! Good luck!
This would be a great one year fit for the White Sox.
MLB deal?
This years Derek Holland.
Exactly the same except for the fact one has a history of being ok, and the other was dominant.
If Lincecum can reinvent himself as at least a high leverage reliever, he might have a few years left in the tank. But any team that signs him has to put him in the pen. I just don’t see him as a starter at this stage of his career.
Timmy rates right up there with Derek Holland. Both deserves to be in either AA or AAA ball somewhere. Both has washed up and past there prime. Maybe a long shot as a middle of pen piece. Maybe let them go to Japan or Korea and play.
TIMMAY!!! Minor League Contract.. C’mon Giants. Take the chance on an unknown kid. Who isn’t a kid. And owns multiple Cy Youngs & WS rings… okay not unknown. Sign him as a RP
Washed
The Brewers will give him a contract and than try to get Geritol as a sponsor for Yo and Tim.
downvote
i see a lot of lincecum in luke weaver. a good two or so years, then the burnout
If he touches 92, Marlins should sign him to a minor league contract. If he doesn’t pan out, not a problem.
Please philly ! Give him a shot !
I agree, they have no one past Nola. Can’t hurt on a minor league deal.
Seems like the type of pitcher the Reds would try to get on a MiLB deal
Seriously, I thought it was a joke when I first saw this…
It is a joke
A rebuilding team should sign him to help bridge the gap for prospects to the majors. Basically be an innings eater.
Dodgers have room on the 40-man. hee hee ho ho ha ha!!!
Is it really a showcase if your fastball is 82mph? Lol
Boy, everyone wants to trash Tim before he even trys out.
I think we can narrow down his ideal potential teams to SF, SD, OAK, LAD, LAA, SEA, COL, BOS, and WAS. Why? Each of these teams is in a state (or district) where weed has been legalized recreationally.
Same song different tune. Move on already.
Great signing for Padres – comes in as number 2-3 in their rotation
relax there traveler don’t get ahead of yourself here
Prime Lincecum was as fun as any pitcher was to watch. The angels version of him was brutal to watch, so i wish him the best. Hopefully he can become serviceable at least. Dude is jacked now.
I would truly like to see him come back and have success, be able to finish his career the way he wants.
this fits with the brewers off season thus far: trying to catch lightning in a bottle.
this fits with the brewers off season thus far: trying to catch lightning in a bottle. might as well take a look.
I’d love to see the successful comeback of Big Time Timmy Jim in 2018. Baltimore should be first in line as they STILL have only 2/5 of a rotation in place for next year.
Timmy is hitting 92 on the gun.