Tim Lincecum designated for assignment by Los Angeles Angels

Tim Lincecum landed with the Los Angeles Angels with some mutual hope he could recapture his previous form, but the team has apparently seen enough.

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Multiple injuries forced the Los Angeles Angels into the market for starting pitching this year, and they signed Tim Lincecum once he was healthy after hip surgery last year. After a promising season debut on June 18, when he held the Oakland Athletics to one run on four hits over six innings, things went downhill from there with a 10.58 ERA over his last eight starts. Overall this season, Lincecum is 2-6 with a 9.16 ERA over nine starts (38.1 innings) with the Angels.

Lincecum allowed six runs on nine hits over just 3.1 innings to the Seattle Mariners Friday night, which punctuated a bad last three starts where he has allowed 18 earned runs over 9.2 innings with 10 walks and just four strikeouts over that span. Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia would not commit to giving the two-time Cy Young Award winner another start, and on Saturday night the team designated Lincecum for assignment.

Once he clears waivers, and it can be assumed he will, Lincecum can accept a minor league assignment or choose to become a free agent. The latter scenario seems more likely, but based on his recent showing with the Angels Lincecum may have to take a minor league contract with a new team.

Scioscia put it best, even though it’s obvious based on results, when he told reporters Lincecum has regressed after his first couple starts. It’s entirely possible we’ve seen the last of Lincecum, at 32 years old, since it’s hard to see him recapturing the form that made him “The Freak” during his time with the San Francisco Giants.