How Much Will A Healthy Tim Lincecum Cost Arte Moreno?

No Comments June 6, 2016 Angels By John Stellman

With there richly talented and abundantly deep pitching staff devastated by crippling injuries, the Angels put out a desperate “call to arms”.

Tim Lincecum heard the call. The Angels are hopeful he will be able to answer it.

Bonuses Galore

On May 20, the Angels signed the former San Francisco Giant right hander to an incentive laden $2.5M contract for the remainder of the 2016 season.

Joey Kaufman of The Orange County Register reports the contract includes $1,175,000 in performances bonuses and $500,000 in roster bonuses.

Lincecum would receive an additional $25,000 for making 11 starts, $50,000 for 13 starts, $100,000 for 15 starts, $200,000 for 17 starts and $400,000 each for 19 and 21 starts.

The Bellevue, Washington native would also earn an additional $125,000 each once he’s on the active roster for 4 days, 30 days, 60 days and 90 days (excluding time on the disabled list).

Lincecum likely will push the Angels over the luxury tax threshold of $189M. But that could be a good thing.

There is no question he brings impressive credentials to Anaheim. But his history is also tainted.

A two-time National League Cy Young Award winner, Lincecum’s baggage includes arthroscopic hip surgery last September 3 to repair a small tear in his labrum. His hipbone was also shaved to solve an impingement.

The operation was performed in Vail, Colorado by Dr. Marc Phillippon.

Good As New

He was given a clean bill of health after no arthritis was found, which was a concern and limited him to just 15 starts last summer.

Angel general manager Billy Eppler was all smiles.

“We’re very excited for this moment to bring someone of his stature, with his resume, into this organization,” the general manager told reporters. “And to help fulfill our championship standards and expectations here.”

Lincecum, who turn 32 on June 15, captured his first Cy Young Award in 2008.

Reflecting on that initial achievement Eppler said, “Guys who have had that level of impact, you’re trying to reclaim some of that.

“Are you going to capture 100 percent? Most likely not. Are you going to capture 80 percent, 70 percent, 90 percent, time will tell ultimately.”

Lincecum’s 18-5 record, 2.62 earned run average and 265 strikeouts enabled him to easily out-distance Arizona’s Brandon Webb (137 votes to 73).

More Hardware

His encore the following summer produced a 15-7 record, 2.48 earned run average, 261 strike outs and a six vote award winning margin over the Cardinals Chris Carpenter.

Lincecum also found time to deal a pair of no-hitters.

He authored the first ever no-no at Petco Park in San Diego when on July 13, 2013 he blanked the Padres, 9-0.

On June 25 the following summer he permitted just one base runner in stifling San Diego again, 4-0.

5-2 In The Playoffs

Lincecum also a possesses a quality the Angels hope will come in handy…post season success!

In the 2010 National League Divisional Series, Lincecum spun a two-hit 1-0 gem to get the Giants off and running against the Braves.

Ditto in the opening game of the Championship Series against Philadelphia when Lincecum went seven innings and received credit for San Francisco’s 4-3 triumph.

Two years later he beat Cincinnati in Game 4 of the Divisional Series but lost in his only Championship Series appearance against the Cardinals.

Lincecum saw his only World Series success in 2010 when he beat Texas twice, including the Game 5 clincher. In the finale he pitched eight strong innings, surrendering just one run and three hits while striking out ten in a very neat 3-1 victory.

Cameo Appearances

He would made only cameo Fall Classic appearances in 2012 against Detroit (4 2/3 innings) and Kansas City (1 2/3) two years later.

“Tim is an outstanding pitcher,” Angel manager Mike Scioscia told Taylor Blake Ward of InsideTheHalos. “One of the most competitive pitchers that I think that has ever taken the mound.

“I think that will go a long way and off-set some of the velocity changes that have happened over the last four or five years.”

The general manager’s take: “When you look more into the peripherals, I think you can capture a little more of what he’ll be able to bring for us.”

“He still has plenty of fastball, his off-speed pitches are still terrific. When you put that all together, he’s going to go out there and give us chances to win games”, Scioscia concluded

Healthy Season

“Success changes as time goes on,” Lincecum said on a teleconference call, “coming back from surgery, I think success will be being healthy at the end of this season and see where I am after that.”

During his nine seasons in San Francisco, the 5’11, 170-pounder won 108 games and lost 83.

Only twice (2012 and 2013) did he win less than 12 games. Between 2008 and 2014 he never started less than 32 games. He averaged just over six strike outs while pitching a like number of innings per game and surrendered less than a hit (0.875) an inning during his career.

Eppler estimates it will 20 to 30 days before Lincecum will get the call to Anaheim. If that is the case, his scheduled return to the major leagues would fall somewhere between June 9 and 19.

“He’ll tell us when he’s ready because he’s earned that,” the general manager stated, “he’s shown that level of feel for what his body needs and what his body has gone through. He’ll know those things.”

On The Same Page

The manager agreed.

“He’s worked hard and he won’t get out there until he’s ready for that challenge,” the skipper surmised.

“This process has been long, and to sign a contract with the Angels meant the world to me,” Lincecum said during a conference call.

“It is tough because I’ve had a lot of emotions and time and relationships that I’ve built up over the course of my career with them (Giants).” the pitcher explained. “At this point I’m just trying to make that decision for myself.”

It is believed that San Francisco was more interested in Lincecum as a reliever than as a starter. But something else also influenced Lincecum’s decision.

“I’ve had a knack for being a West Coast guy, and I’ve always had curiosity about the Angels,” said Lincecum, who went to Mariners games as a kid. “They were in my sites as a young kid and they’re a West Coast team.

“I’m anxious and I’m excited. A little nervous because it’s a process I’ve never been through – being with a new team – coming off surgery,” the University of Washington graduate confessed.

“But I’m excited to say the least because I’ve put a lot of time and work into what I’ve been doing in this craft. I’m pumped to see what I can do out there on the field.”

Street Smarts

Somebody else who is pumped up is new teammate Huston Street.

Street was a National League West rival of Lincecum’s from 2009 through 2014 when he pitched for the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres.

“I absolutely love him,” Street told The Orange County Register’s Jeff Fletcher.

“As a competitor, he’s somebody who’s been at the top of the game, a two-time Cy Young winner, and he’s gone through rough times and he stayed the exact same person all the way through.

“Talent like that just doesn’t go away completely, ever,” Street concluded.

And that’s exactly what the Angels are banking on!

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John Stellman

I was born with sports in my blood. I began coaching little league baseball at 15. I was the sports editor of my high school newspaper. I did football play by play for the college radio station. I broadcast high school basketball for a local commercial station. But baseball was always my passion. During the 1970's I covered the Angels for the Orange County Register. And now I am back where I belong...