Tim Lincecum has possibly thrown his last pitch for the Giants

San Francisco Giants righty Tim Lincecum will miss the rest of the season following hip surgery. Team general manager Bobby Evans confirmed the news to KNBR on Thursday morning.

Lincecum hasn’t pitched for the club since June 27. He left that start after being hit in the forearm with a line drive. As Lincecum was recovering from that injury, he was diagnosed with a degenerative hip condition. He reportedly suffered a setback recently, which led Lincecum to seek a second opinion on his hips. It was recommended that he undergo surgery to fix the issue.

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Further complicating issues is the fact that Lincecum is in the final year of his contract. In a little more than a month, he’ll officially be a free agent. Given his recent struggles, and now this injury, it’s possible that Lincecum’s time as a member of the Giants has come to an end.

If so, that would be sad. Lincecum hasn’t been a top of the line starter since 2011, but, boy, his peak seasons were incredible. After an average debut in 2007, Lincecum exploded onto the scene during his sophomore season. 

He instantly became one of the best, and one of the most entertaining, starters in the game. Despite his size, Lincecum pumped a fastball that averaged 94 mph early in his career. His unorthodox, yet strangely beautiful, delivery was delightful to watch. Combine these traits, and it’s no surprise Lincecum earned the nickname “The Freak.” 

The awards speak for themselves. Lincecum won two straight Cy Young Awards during his first two full seasons in the majors. He made the All-Star game four straight years. During that period, Lincecum posted a 2.81 ERA over 881 2/3 innings. He struck out an incredible 977 batters.

Then, injuries and ineffectiveness started to creep in. Lincecum’s fastball velocity, which was already declining, averaged just more than 90 mph in 2012. His walk and home-run rate jumped, leading to a 5.18 ERA. Lincecum was somewhat able to salvage his poor season by turning into a relief ace in the playoffs as the Giants won their second World Series championship in three seasons, though.

Since then, he hasn’t really been the same. Lincecum’s velocity has continued to decline, and he was even briefly sent to the bullpen during the 2014 season. Over the past four seasons, Lincecum has a 4.68 ERA through 615 2/3 innings. He struck out 577 batters during that period.

There have been moments of brilliance, even as he’s declined. Lincecum threw two no-hitters during this period. The first came in 2013, while the second happened the following season. Even through his struggles, he still managed to occasionally remind us of his past.

Lincecum’s decline would have made him an interesting free agent this offseason. His surgery further complicates matters. 

There’s some reason for optimism, though. Jon Heyman of CBSSports noted that doctors believe Lincecum’s lost velocity could be related to his condition. With surgery, there’s a chance that will improve.

Nonetheless, doctors are said to have told Lincecum that he could easily be ready for next spring training if he had the surgery, and they’ve further suggested that he should be able to return to form. They also are said to believe that his steep velocity decline is related to his current hip woes. The smallish righthander known as “The Freak” is a pitcher who relies on extraordinary torque and the drive of his legs to generate unreal arm speed for a sub-6-foot pitcher, or any pitcher really.

All of that is encouraging. Lincecum was likely to get an offer merely based on his past upside, but teams will certainly be more interested if he suddenly regains some life on his fastball. 

In fairness, none of this means his time with San Francisco has come to an end. But given his current situation, Lincecum is going to hit the market for the first time in his career. While we have no idea what that market will look like, it’s certainly possible another team will swoop in and make Lincecum a better offer.

A change of scenery might be for the best, too. Lincecum has spent the past few seasons in San Francisco trying to regain his old form. A fresh start isn’t guaranteed to help, but it might provide a mental boost.

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Lincecum is no longer the dominant force he was earlier in his career. His signing won’t cause major waves during the offseason. With that said, his possible departure from the Giants makes us think fondly about what used to be.

Lincecum’s rise to the top was such a hugely entertaining experience. For a couple years, he took baseball by storm, and was the best pitcher on the planet. There are a lot of exceptional memories of Lincecum wearing a Giants uniform. To see him anywhere else seems strange, even if it makes sense for both sides. 

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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik