Should the Pittsburgh Pirates take a flyer on Tim Lincecum?

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been named as a team that is “checking in” on Tim Lincecum. Should they take a flyer on the veteran?

With just a few weeks to go until the start of the 2016 season, there aren’t too many free agents still looking for a home for the upcoming campaign. The Pirates snatched up David Freese last week and signed him to a one year, $3 million deal, taking advantage of a market that never developed for the veteran infielder. However, there is still a very intriguing pitcher who is still on the market and he has many teams interested, including the Pirates.

Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweeted that the Pirates have interest in former San Francisco Giant Tim Lincecum:

#Pirates are among teams that have checked in on free agent RHP Tim Lincecum, per source: https://t.co/SO7V2UGOYU pic.twitter.com/IXuIgUU5kE

— Stephen J. Nesbitt (@stephenjnesbitt) March 12, 2016

Lincecum is a three-time World Series champion, two-time NL Cy Young award winner, and has also thrown two no-hitters in his career, so he has quite the resume. He struck out over 200 hitters in each season between 2008 and 2011 before he started to lose velocity on his fastball. His ERA went from 2.74 in 2011 to an awful 5.18 in 2012. In each of the past three seasons his ERA has never been below four.

Lincecum underwent season-ending hip injury late in 2015, and that, coupled with his poor numbers over the past few seasons, led the Giants to decide to let him go. His last extension with the Giants covered two years and paid him $35 million. His next contract will most likely only cover one year (perhaps two) and will not be near the average rate of his last deal. Coming off of a serious injury and years of declining velocity and increasingly poor numbers, Lincecum will most likely receive a contract low in guaranteed money but with a number of incentives.

Of all the teams that are interested in Lincecum, the Pirates should be at the top of the list due to their past successes in reviving pitchers who have seen their careers stall. The list of pitchers who have benefited from spending time with ray Searage include the likes of A.J. Burnett, Edinson Volquez, J.A. Happ, and current Pirate Francisco Liriano.

One concerning aspect of Lincecum’s return is that he was supposed to have a showcase for interested teams in January, but that showing has been pushed back multiple times. Since his camp has been quiet about almost all the details surrounding Lincecum, it’s not known if he is ready to step into a rotation spot or even a bullpen role. Nothing has been said as to why the showcase was pushed back or what his velocity has been, but undoubtedly the Pirates and other interested teams will do their homework while pursuing him.

The chances of Lincecum returning to what he was when he was dominating the National League years ago are slim, but if the Pirates are able to sign him to a contract with a low amount of guaranteed money but with many incentives, Lincecum is the exact type of pitcher a team like the Pittsburgh Pirates should pursue.

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