Angels general manager Billy Eppler said Friday that he expects Tim Lincecum to need 20-30 days in the minors before joining the major league rotation.
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Less than two weeks after his showcase in Scottsdale, the Los Angeles Angels are finalizing a deal to sign the two-time National League Cy Young victor to a one-year deal that will pay him a base salary around $2 million with $1.7 million in incentives, according to multiple reports.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press on Friday because the Angels hadn’t made an announcement. He didn’t pitch after June 27 previous year with the Giants because of injuries. His career was in doubt last September when he had surgery and didn’t sign with a team.
Lincecum, 31, went 7-4 with a 4.13 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 60 strikeouts in 15 starts and 76.1 innings pitched in 2015 for the San Francisco Giants.
On the other hand, the Angels hope that the club is bringing in a potential answer to all of their pitching woes. “It sounds a little selfish, but I think this is the first time I’ve ever had to deal with a major injury, so I’m trying to get my mind around that”. In his second season as a Giant, Lincecum won the National League Cy Young award, and then repeated his accomplishment the next year, when he was still just 25 years old. Their ace, Garrett Richards, is undergoing a stem-cell procedure to try and avoid Tommy John surgery, and starters Andrew Heaney and C.J. Wilson also are on the disabled list.
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Lincecum said his landing leg is stable and he has the freedom of motion for his unique delivery. He has been an All-Star four times and helped the Giants win World Series titles three times in five years.
