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Tim Lincecum doesn’t think he’s done yet
Sunday’s Say Hey, Baseball features the determination of Tim Lincecum, Pudge’s special honor, and Adam Jones’ new offseason job.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
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Tim Lincecum isn’t ready to stop pitching yet. He’s not ready to retire, and he’s not ready to pitch overseas. The former Giant wants to be a major league pitcher again. And despite having no offers from any teams, he’s starting to throw and get ready for the season. With just over three weeks until spring training starts, he’s gotta get a move on.
Lincecum’s fall is pretty epic, honestly. He won two Cy Young Awards in 2008 and 2009 (his first two full seasons), and was a major contributor to the Giants World Series victory in 2010. Things started going south in 2011, and even though he did manage no-hitters against the Padres in 2013 and 2014, he was far from the starter he once was. A degenerative hip condition ended his 2015 season in June, and after surgery, he picked up with the Angels in 2016. He started nine games and racked up a 9.16 ERA before they mercifully designated him for assignment.
None of this is particularly encouraging for Lincecum’s future, but let’s consider the pitching market right now, shall we? It’s so shallow that Kyle Kendrick, who didn’t appear in the majors at all in 2016 and has won zero Cy Young Awards, has been invited to Red Sox spring training. If Kendrick can get an invite, Lincecum should be able to. He doesn’t want to give up yet and wants to try and wring every bit of pitching juice from his body. If you need further proof that giving up pitching is hard, Jon Heyman has reported that Johan Santana is working out on his own, preparing to mount yet another comeback. The pitching mound has a siren call that’s hard to deny.
- Ivan Rodriguez’s number will be retired by the Rangers after he’s enshrined in the Hall of Fame, an honor the team has reserved for only two others in their entire history. And one is Nolan Ryan.
- The Braves are finalizing a deal to add catcher Kurt Suzuki to their roster, and I really think he could play forever.
- Speaking of catchers and short deals, the Orioles might still be interested in bringing Matt Wieters back on a one-year deal.
- Viva El Birdos doesn’t want the Cardinals to mess around with their catcher, Yadier Molina. They want the team to extend him before the season even starts.
- Brian Cashman sure has been talking about trading Brett Gardner, which seems a little strange.
- After trading Chris Sale and waiting for the new season to start, the White Sox are caught in a weird place.
- The Cubs have two picks in the first round of the draft this year, but before you roll your eyes and say “Great, that’s just what those World Series winners need!” the picks are No. 27 and No. 30.
- Adam Jones does more than play outfield for the Orioles. Now he’s going to be an off-ice official for the San Diego Gulls hockey team!
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