Report: Tim Lincecum On Trading Block This Offseason; Could “The Freak” Be Philadelphia Bound Next Season?

(Photo: Wikipedia Commons)

In a very interesting report from NBC Sports' HardBallTalk.com, the San Francisco Giants' two-time Cy Young Award winner (2008-2009) Tim Lincecum will be on the trading block this offseason.

Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo:

Tim Lincecum, RHP, Giants — He will be available in trade, and it will be interesting to see who bites on the two-time Cy Young winner. The Giants insist his problems this season were strictly mechanical, but opposing teams wonder why his usual 96-mile-per-hour fastball was around 92 most of the season.

In his worst year yet, Lincecum went 10-15 and posted a 5.18 ERA in 186 innings this season. Lincecum is owed $22 million in 2013 and it seems that the only way the Giants can get "The Freak" off their hands is if they eat up most of his contract. 

Lincecum is scheduled to become a first-time free-agent after the 2013 season, but if he makes it through the offseason without being moved and doesn't have a turnaround year next season, he will most likely test that market.

There are a few rumors going around that the Phillies may be interested in adding another starter. The Phillies and Giants already made a deal back in July with Hunter Pence, why wouldn't it work for Lincecum? As we know, Ruben likes to make a big splash. Honestly, the Phillies don't need Lincecum, they should work on getting a third baseman and bullpen arms.

Side note: It's not a very good idea to release this information three hours prior to Game 6 of the NLCS. It could be a deflator for the team in a way. If they do manage to come back and force a Game 7 and even move on to the World Series, this whole thing (if it gets back to Lincecum) could be a mental downer for him in his outings.

Follow Erik on Twitter @ErikSeyboldPHI.