Finding a match: Which team should take a chance on Lincecum?

Tim Lincecum - known to some as The Freak - was once considered one of the most dominant starting pitchers in all of baseball. Despite his diminutive figure and unorthodox pitching style, Lincecum - a four-time All-Star - won back-to-back National League Cy Young awards in 2008 and 2009.

You would be hard-pressed to find a starter that matched Lincecum's production as the ace of the San Francisco Giants from 2007-2011 where he combined for a 69-41 record, a 2.98 ERA, and over 1,000 strikeouts. Unfortunately, The Freak's career has fallen off almost entirely after combining for an ugly 9.16 ERA in nine starts with the Los Angeles Angels last season.

For a team searching for added depth in the rotation, taking a chance on Lincecum would be a low-risk, potentially high-reward gamble in hopes the former first-round pick gets his career back on track.

Here are five teams that could sign Lincecum:

Pittsburgh Pirates

Earning a reputation as a team that resurrects pitchers, it would seem the Pirates could be an ideal landing spot for Lincecum. Vance Worley, Francisco Liriano, J.A. Happ, and Ivan Nova are only a few of the starters over the years that found instant success when they were acquired by the Pirates thanks to pitching coach marvel Ray Searage. PNC Park also happens to be friendly to pitchers which could help the home run prone Lincecum find his groove.

Kansas City Royals

Speaking of pitcher-friendly ballparks, that seems to the trend here as far as possible fits for Lincecum. The Royals are also in need of pitching depth after the tragic death of Yordano Ventura and the departures of Edinson Volquez and Kris Medlen through free agency. The club's top four starters look to be set but Lincecum would provide insurance to a team that is seeking a veteran arm and a spark to the rotation.

Baltimore Orioles

What better team to join than one in dire need of depth in the starting rotation? Much like the Royals, the Orioles are on the hunt for a veteran starter or two and Lincecum's time to shine could come in Baltimore. If the team signs the 32-year-old to a minor-league deal, the Orioles can wait to see how he performs and can call him up if any of the current starters in their thin starting rotation struggle or get hurt.

San Diego Padres

The fit here is logical for so many reasons. The Padres aren't expected to compete anytime soon, and compared to other teams, would give Lincecum the best chance to start. The club's rotation is thin, to say the least, and it comes at a time when the organization is searching for multiple starters to round out its starting five. Much like other possibilities on the list, Petco Park in San Diego benefits pitchers immensely and it doesn't hurt that Lincecum has had success against the Padres in the past (9-3 record with a 2.41 ERA and 140 strikeouts pitching in Petco).

Houston Astros

It may not be the huge addition the Astros had in mind but Lincecum does make sense for a team that has been on the lookout for more pitching. Lincecum would face an uphill battle attempting to earn a rotation spot, but the bottom half of the Astros starters' depth chart isn't elite by any means. Interestingly enough, Lincecum has pitched great in Minute Paid Park for his career, limiting hitters to .204/.252/.330 while fashioning a 2.93 ERA in five starts. Another advantage for Lincecum is the Astros' prowess on defense, as the team ranked second in all of baseball last season with 51 defensive runs saved.