Rangers strike a deal with Tim Lincecum

SURPRISE, Ariz.— Rangers spring training is about to become a Big Sexy Freak show.

According to two majorleague sources, the Rangers have agreed to a deal with right-hander Tim Lincecum, nicknamed “The Freak,” on a major-league deal. The deal is still pending a physical.

Lincecum, whom the Rangers once eyed for their No. 1 draft pick, would join Bartolo “Big Sexy” Colon in camp to give the club a pair of former Cy Young winners in their spring clubhouse. Both pitchers won the Cy Young Award between 2005-09.

Lincecum is expected to move to the bullpen after a decade as a starter. He was out of baseball in 2017 after an abortive stint with the Los Angeles Angels in 2016. Lincecum had hip surgery in 2015 to repair a torn labrum and did not have good velocity in 2016. According to scouts who saw him earlier this month in a showcase, however, his velocity was back to the 90-93 mph range.

The Rangers have lots of uncertainty in their bullpen, starting with no established closer. They entered camp with Jake Diekman, Keone Kela and Alex Claudio as the

most likely options. Claudio, a changeup specialist, had 11 saves last year.

Lincecum, however, has made only eight career relief appearances, seven of them in 2014 with San Francisco. He has one career save, pitching the final two innings of a 14-inning San Francisco win in 2014 just two days after starting a game and going seven innings.

The Rangers had eyed Lincecum for their first-round selection in 2006, but the San Francisco Giants took him with the 10th pick overall. Max Scherzer was the next pick. The Rangers, at No. 12, ended up with Kasey Kiker, who never pitched in the majors.