Jessie Hester

Giants still interested in Tim Lincecum

San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Wednesday he has increasing interest in free agent pitcher Tim Lincecum.

What It Means:

Lincecum is scheduled to throw a showcase for interested teams on Friday in Arizona, and over 20 major league clubs are expected to have a representative in attendance. Bochy and the Giants are viewing Lincecum as a potential long reliever. The two-time National League Cy Young Award winner probably prefers to start.

Lincecum had a 4.64 xFIP last season, but in the three previous seasons, his xFIP was lower than his ERA, suggesting he was unlucky. However, his strikeout percentage has been below league average for the past four seasons -- and has declined the past two -- while his walk percentage reached a career worst 11.4 last season (league average was 7.7 percent).