Phillies rumor: Club scouting 2x Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum

Can the former All-Star regain his former greatness with the Phillies?

Phillies scouts will be among at least 10 teams in attendance when former San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum throws a showcase in Seattle on Thursday, according to FanRagSports’ Jon Heyman. Lincecum held a showcase in May of 2016 after being released by the Giants and pitched just nine games that season for the Angels, and made no appearances in 2017.

The 33-year-old Lincecum was on track towards a Hall of Fame career with the Giants after winning back-to-back Cy Young awards by his third major league season. The10th overall pick of the 2006 Amateur Draft out of the University of Washington, Lincecum was 69-41 with a 2.98 ERA in his first five major league seasons.

Lincecum threw no-hitters in consecutive seasons against the San Diego Padres in July of 2013 and June of 2014. He became only the second pitcher all-time to have multiple no-hitters, multiple Cy Young Awards, multiple All-Star selections, and multiple World Series championship titles, joining Sandy Kofax.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JUNE 25: Tim Lincecum /

After four consecutive all-star selections, Lincecum’s career took an odd turn when he lost the magic that led him to his early success. In 2012 he led baseball in losses, earned runs, and wild pitches while compiling a 5.18 ERA. He was relegated to the bullpen for most of the 2012 playoffs with the exception of one start in the NLCS against St. Louis when he allowed four runs in four and two-thirds innings.

A degenerative condition in both of his hips is likely what led to Lincecum’s demise as a major league pitcher. One would assume his unique, signature long-stretched pitching mechanics are to blame for the issue.

In what’s been a relatively lazy offseason for Major League Baseball the Phillies have been hard at work adding three veteran free agents to their 25-man roster. The club is expected to continue its public push for a veteran starting pitcher with Jake Arrieta, Lance Lynn, and Alex Cobb remaining on the open market.

A five-man rotation likely stands as Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff, Vince Velasquez, Nick Pivetta, and Ben Lively if the Phillies can’t add a veteran through a trade or free agency. Zach Eflin, Mark Leiter Jr., Jake Thompson and Thomas Eshelman are likely to battle for a place on the major league roster, although Leiter will likely return to the bullpen while the remaining three play in Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Opening Day.