The Phillies remain interested in adding a veteran starter before the season begins, even though Spring Training opens tomorrow morning. Many pitchers remain unsigned, even with camps set to break around the league. One pitcher looking for work is veteran pitcher Tim Lincecum.
Jon Heyman of Fan Rag Sports reports that the Phillies are among teams whose scouts will assemble to see what Lincecum can do:
Hints have suggested Lincecum has shown some velocity in recent workouts. But the teams will want to see for themselves.
The Rangers, Tigers, Brewers, Padres, Orioles, Phillies and of course his longtime Giants will be there, as well, as the two-time Cy Young winner attempts to return, yet again.
Heyman writes that Lincecum may have made his comeback too soon last season and may have something to offer teams.
Lincecum was near-dominant for the San Francisco Giants for many years, including the 2010 club who defeated the Phillies in the National League Champion Series. At his peak, Lincecum made four straight All-Star appearances and won back-to-back Cy Young awards and placed in the top 10 two other times. However, Lincecum's performance dipped before succumbing to corrective hip surgery that cut his 2015 season short.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim signed Lincecum during the 2017 season and Lincecum made nine starts for the injury-riddled Angels team. The results were unimpressive; Lincecum went 2-6 with a 9.13 earned run average. Should he be more fully recovered, a team might take a chance on him once again.
Whether the Phillies have room on their roster for a project like Lincecum remains to be seen. Should the Phillies add a veteran starter, they will have many younger pitchers without spots. The Phillies may want to give the likes of a Jake Thompson, Mark Leiter, Tom Eshelman or Ben Lively the first opportunity that opens up instead of a starter like Lincecum who would be towards the end of his career.
The Phillies are likely to start Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickoff, Vince Velaszquez and Nick Pivetta in addition to whatever veteran addition they may add.
