KC Royals: Remaining Free Agent Starting Pitching Options

Tim Lincecum: Age 31

Tim Lincecum has two Cy Young awards, three World Series rings, and is a four time all-star.

While he racked up the awards early in his career, he has been less than impressive over the past four seasons. He’s failed to reach 200 innings in each of the past four seasons but put up four straight seasons of at least 200 innings from 2008-2011.

Lincecum missed the end of the 2015 season to have the labrum repaired in his hip. His surgeon seemed confident that this would help him return to form.

Jon Heyman, an MLB insider for CBSSports.com, wrote an article quoting Lincecums hip surgeon Marc Philipon about Lincecum’s potential bounceback:

"“I think it’s going to help tremendously to regain the velocity on his pitches and the (control) of them,” Philippon said. “If you cannot control the hips – that’s what generates the power – it’s difficult to get full motion. “Every pitcher is different. In his style of pitching he uses the hips a lot,” Philippon said. “We’re going to make sure he returns perfectly balanced. We want to make sure his pitching balance his better.”"

Because Lincecum comes with so much risk, he may have to settle for a short-term deal to prove that the hip surgery was successful.

The Royals could stand to be the benefactors if they are willing to take a risk. Dayton Moore has hit it big on reclamation projects in the past. If Lincecum is going to bounce back it may as well be for the Royals.

It’s also an even year which means you should probably bet on the Giants making the World Series (I’m joking…but is there actually some kind of magic there?). How great would it be to have Tim Lincecum shut down his former team in the World Series and usher in a new dynasty to baseball.

Next: Other Options And Analysis