Tim Lincecum’s San Francisco Giants Return: Here’s Why It Will Happen

The world is Tim Lincecum’s oyster at the moment, as he is healthy (his pitching showcase on Saturday went well), he is available to sign with any team, and he happens to be one of the best pitchers in the MLB — with a track record to prove it. Out of all the teams Lincecum could sign with, though, his hometown San Francisco Giants are seeming more and more likely everyday.

Tim Lincecum tosses 41 pitches, hits 92 mph in today's showcase for more than 20 clubs: https://t.co/tDuqDEOZQ0 pic.twitter.com/PB4fa0ppDn

— MLB (@MLB) May 7, 2016

Most of the reasons for Tim’s likelihood to resign with the Giants stem from one fact: though originally from Washington State, he is a born and bred San Francisco ballplayer. Lincecum served the entirety of the eight-plus seasons of his career in the orange and black uniform, and the fact that fans got to see him grow into the league, in addition to his grade-A performance, made “The Freak,” Lincecum’s affectionate MLB nickname, a definite fan favorite. Lincecum would, without a doubt, be welcomed back with open arms and would more than likely be receiving standing ovations from the crowd at AT&T Park from the moment he steps out of the Giants dugout. Lincecum is aware of that fact, and it will surely be a major consideration when he is deciding what team to go with.

@baseballmarty sure hope we get to see Timmy @timlincecum sometime tonight, especially in front of the sf crowd. pic.twitter.com/RdNYEpmNgs

— ??? ??Monsutahant? ????????? ?? ? (@yuiyoshida1987) October 26, 2014

The San Francisco Giants fans are not the only ones that want Tim Lincecum back, either. The Giants players and coaches say they miss Tim and want him to return as well.

“I mean, sure, we have interest. We’ll be watching him,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reporters recently when asked about the prospect of resigning Lincecum.

“Regardless what happens, you’re going to root for Tim Lincecum. Nobody loves him more than I do. I know how much he’s loved here in the Bay Area and by his teammates.”

The organization has even saved Lincecum’s uniform number, 55, so he will be able to reclaim it should he return. The San Francisco Giants clubhouse, the Giants family, and AT&T Park make up Tim Lincecum’s home, and who doesn’t want to return home?

I'd like to be a part of that hug. Tim Lincecum and Buster Posey ? pic.twitter.com/eGVoMpRRVt

— Courtney Yarbrough (@yahbrough8) July 15, 2013

Another major reason Tim Lincecum will most likely re-sign with the Giants is that they really need him right now, and will be willing him to offer the two things he has made clear he wants in a contract: guarantee of a spot in the starting rotation and good pay.

Firstly, let’s discuss the “starting rotation” bit of that statement and how it relates to Lincecum. During the offseason and even at the beginning of the 2016 season, San Francisco did not think it would need help from Tim Lincecum or anyone else with its starting rotation. They had (and still have) Madison Bumgarner and Matt Cain, two Giants aces, as well as Jake Peavy and the newly acquired duo of Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija, all three of the latter solid starters as well.

Looks like the Giants are ready for another World Series run.
This is a very good starting rotation! pic.twitter.com/ySLVUhHsGw

— PAGMETER (@PAGMETER) December 15, 2015

Bumgarner, Cueto, and Samardzija have all been killing it during the 2016 season, but, as the Inquisitr reported several days ago, Cain and Peavy have not been delivering at all. Peavy’s and Cain’s ERAs are 9.00 and 7.84 respectively, and Bochy has considered moving one of them down to the minor leagues.

Chris Heston, the “phenom” who the Giants banked on as a fallback starter if one of their rotation members went south, did not pan out when he was brought up to the bigs, and now he is even struggling to perform in triple-A ball, reports Giants Extra. The Giants have their backs against the wall in terms of choosing a starting rotation, and that is where Tim Lincecum comes in.

Lincecum has said as recently as this weekend that a role as a starter is his first priority. The Giants did not want to offer Lincecum that guarantee at the start of the season. Now the Giants need a starter and would be willing to offer a large paycheck to someone with experience. Who better than someone they know from firsthand experience can rock the house like Tim Lincecum has done on countless occasions?

Combine the Giants’ strategic reasons for needing Tim Lincecum with the fact that the Lincecum name on the roster would put more fans in the seats at AT&T Park, and it seems more than realistic that Lincecum will be returning to the city by the bay.

[Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images]