GM praises Lincecum: 'He started a new era in Giants baseball'
Bobby Evans remembers Tim Lincecum's ferocious need to win.
The San Francisco Giants' general manager called Lincecum "the difference-maker" in the club's 2012 World Series championship - two years after he was the ace in the previous World Series-winning team from 2010.
He did it because he came out of the bullpen and dominated, even though he'd pitched out of the rotation his entire career.
"He started a new era in Giants baseball and forever will mean a lot to the organization,” Evans told the San Francisco Chronicle's John Shea.
After hosting a showcase a few weeks ago, Lincecum reportedly accepted a one-year, $2.5-million deal with the Los Angeles Angels, meaning, for now at least, his days with the Giants are over.
“We wish him well with his decision and his role with the Angels, and we’re very happy he’s feeling good and is healthy after surgery, not an easy surgery to go through," Evans added. "We’ll certainly root for him.”
Lincecum passed an in-depth physical Thursday in Anaheim in an effort to prove to the organization he's fully healed from a September hip operation.
The Angels haven't made it official, but when they do, the right-hander is expected to come out of the bullpen after getting acclimated in the minors.
But, despite the fact it'll be bittersweet for the Giants to see Lincecum pitch down the interstate, Evans is holding out hope there might be an opportunity to snag him in the future.
“He’s an Angel now, and he may be an Angel the rest of his career," he said. "Who knows what’ll happen down the road."