ANAHEIM -- The Angels, in desperate need of help in their rotation, are close to signing two-time National League Cy Young Award winner
Tim Lincecum, multiple sources confirmed to MLB.com on Monday. Jon Heyman of MLB Network and Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports first reported the impending deal, which would not be complete until Lincecum passes a physical. The Angels have not commented.
A source said the deal is "close," though both sides are still ironing out details. Once finalized, it would be a Major League deal. Lincecum, 31 and coming off hip surgery, hasn't pitched in a game since June 27, 2015, and would need to make a handful of Minor League rehab starts before joining the Angels' staff.
Lincecum was one of the game's best pitchers from 2008-11, averaging 16 wins, a 2.81 ERA and 10 strikeouts per nine innings while making the NL All-Star team and finishing within the top 10 in NL Cy Young Award voting in each of those four seasons.
In the four years since, though, Lincecum's ERA rose to 4.68. He posted a 4.13 ERA, a 1.48 WHIP and a 1.58 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 15 starts last year, and he then underwent season-ending hip surgery.
The 31-year-old right-hander has reportedly been working all offseason and spring to rebuild his velocity and durability, and the Angels were among a multitude of teams that were represented at his showcase in Scottsdale, Ariz., on May 6.
The Angels currently have four starting pitchers tending to injuries.
Garrett Richards has a torn ulnar collateral ligament that will likely require Tommy John surgery, which would keep him out until at least the middle of the 2017 season;
Andrew Heaney is hoping to avoid the same procedure and won't be back until July at the earliest; Tyler Skaggs, recovering from August 2014 Tommy John surgery, hasn't thrown in more than three weeks due to a bout with biceps tendinitis; and
C.J. Wilson, dealing with shoulder issues since the start of Spring Training, isn't expected back until mid-June, at the earliest.
The Angels' rotation includes
Jered Weaver,
Hector Santiago,
Nick Tropeano, Matt Shoemaker and
Jhoulys Chacin, who was acquired from the Braves last week.
