Rangers negotiating with Lincecum for bullpen role
Two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum is in negotiations with the Texas Rangers on a one-year contract. The 33-year-old right-hander pitched in a showcase for major league teams, executives and scouts earlier this month near his hometown of Seattle.
Lincecum hasn’t pitched in the majors since a disappointing nine-start stint in 2016 with the Angels. Texas would likely consider him for a bullpen role, perhaps as a closer.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy thinks that’s a good fit for his former ace.
“I think Timmy would be good at (relieving),” Bochy said. “Effective against lefties and righties. He’s got that versatility to start or relieve.”
The Giants could get a first-hand look since they play the Rangers on Monday in Arizona.
In 2015, Lincecum went 7-4 with a 4.13 ERA in 15 starts for the Giants after throwing no-hitters both against San Diego in July 2013 and June 2014. He had hip surgery in September 2015 and didn’t sign with a team after concluding a $35 million, two-year deal with the Giants.
In nine seasons with San Francisco, he helped the Giants win three World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014.
TOP PROSPECT OUT FOR YEAR >> Chicago White Sox prospect Jake Burger has a torn left Achilles tendon and will miss the season. The club says the 11th overall draft pick last June will have surgery this week.
Soccer
The North American Soccer League canceled its 2018 season after a federal court appeals court denied its attempt to maintain second-tier status.
The NASL held secondtier status in the U.S. Soccer Federation from 2011 through last year. It filed an antitrust suit against USSF in September after its status was not renewed and asked for an injunction to preserve it. A distric court and appeals court both denied the injunction.
NASL interim commissioner Rishi Sehgal said “playing the 2018 season is no longer a possibility” but the league will press ahead with the antitrust suit and hopes to resume play in 2019.
NFL
LIONS PUT TAG ON ANSAH >> The Detroit Lions have designated defensive end Ziggy Ansah as their franchise player. The first-round draft pick in 2013 has 44 sacks in five years with Detroit, including 12 this past season. EAGLES’ JONES RETIRES >> Philadelphia Eagles punter Donnie Jones has retired after 14 seasons in the NFL. He set the record for most regular-season games played by an Eagles punter (80) and finishes his career with the third-longest consecutive-gamesplayed streak (208) behind only Texans punter Shane Lechler (254) and Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (235).
COLTS’ COACH COMPLETES STAFF >> Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich has filled out his coaching staff with 11 additions.
The most familiar names on the list are running backs coach Tom Rathman and secondary coach Alan Williams, who returns to Indianapolis after spending four years with the Detroit Lions.
Tennis
DIMITROV UPSET IN DUBAI >> Wild-card entry Malek Jaziri stunned top-seeded Grigor Dimitrov 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the opening round of the Dubai Championships. It was the first win over a top-5 player for the 117thranked Jaziri.
Fifth-seeded Richard Gasquet was also upset, losing to Borna Coric 6-4, 6-3. Second-seeded Lucas Pouille avoided a similar slip-up by defeating Ernests Gulbis 6-4, 6-4.
Jaziri will next face Robin Haase for a place in the quarterfinals; Pouille will play Karen Khachanov.