Tim Lincecum couldn't reestablish himself as a productive major league pitcher with the Los Angeles Angels last season, but the two-time Cy Young Award winner and Giants legend hasn't given up on recapturing his previous form.
Although he doesn't have a contract for 2017 and spring training is barely more than three weeks away, Lincecum "is throwing and getting ready for the season," according to his agent, Rick Thurman.
Lincecum, 32, was an enigma at this time last year, when he was rehabbing from left hip surgery in Sept. 2015 and preparing to throw a showcase session off a mound for scouts. He ended up pushing back that session until May, and signed a minor league contract with the Angels because they offered the best opportunity to claim a rotation spot.
Then Lincecum went just 2-6 with a 9.16 ERA in nine starts for the Angels while allowing 68 hits in 381/3 innings _ leading to doubts about whether the right-hander who pitched the Giants to two World Series titles and threw two no-hitters would ever compete again in the big leagues.
But Lincecum is not calling it quits, nor is he entertaining offers to pitch overseas. He continues to look for a big league opportunity, Thurman said.
It's possible that Lincecum will relent and consider opportunities to pitch in relief _ a long predicted role in his career arc, and one in which he excelled while helping to pitch the Giants to a championship in 2012.
But given his struggles since 2012, and his inability to return to form following surgery last year, it's hard to envision him getting anything more than a minor league contract.
Don't expect Lincecum to return to the Giants. Their bullpen appears to be full.
There will be interest from around the league, though. After all, teams were continuing to give Dontrelle Willis minor league contracts and work with him on the back fields more than a decade after the former NL Rookie of the Year had lost his competitive form.
Lincecum still has the changeup and curveball that can get hitters out, and perhaps his diminished fastball might play up if used in short bursts.
