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MLB: Five Potential Landing Spots For Tim Lincecum

By Gavin Lee

Apr 10, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum (55) walks off the field after the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum (55) walks off the field after the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

With Tim Lincecum conducting a showcase on Friday afternoon for as many as 20 teams, the 2-time Cy Young award winner will look to latch on in the MLB for the rest of the season.  After a disappointing 2015 that saw Lincecum throw more changeups than fastballs before hitting the disabled list in late June because of a degenerative hip injury, eventually being shut down for the year, Lincecum has been throwing every 5th day trying to replicate the stresses of a major league rotation.

The small right-hander came into the league firing bullets out of that right arm, getting his fastball up to 99 mph on regularity.  The velocity has been steadily declining since 2008 though, with it hitting an all-time low last season at an average of 87.5 mph. There had been rumors as he tried to rehab last year that he couldn’t get it over 85 in any bullpen session, but now he’s apparently back up to 91 before his showcase.

If he can show that he has at least some of his fastball back, and has learned to pitch without lighting up radar guns many teams will be interested in his services. After all, he is only 31-years old and has been an elite pitcher in the past.  You don’t have to look far to find a similar case, as just down the coast from Lincecum’s last team Scott Kazmir is pitching for the Dodgers after signing a 3-year $48 million dollar deal this offseason.

Kazmir suffered a similar decline in velocity before being released by the Angels in 2011.  He spent 2012 pitching for the Sugar Land Skeeters, and independent league team before getting back to the big leagues at 29.  Kazmir was an all-star in 2014 for Oakland and was one of the most sought after lefty starters this free agency.

If Kazmir can make a return, it’s certainly possible for Lincecum to do something similar and there are many teams who will be attending his showcase hoping to catch the same lightning he showed as a younger pitcher.  We’ll look at the top 5 potential landing spots for Tim Lincecum.

Next: Number 5

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