Tim Lincecum won't don a Texas Rangers uniform after all.
With Lincecum's 30-day minor-league rehab assignment set to expire on Tuesday and a spot on their active roster not available, the Rangers announced they have granted the former two-time Cy Young winner his outright release.
"Despite good intentions and a lot of hard work, we didn't feel it was the right move to bring Tim up here," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.
Texas could have asked Lincecum to accept a minor-league assignment once his rehab period expired, but he has the right to refuse being optioned to the minors thanks to big-league service time.
Lincecum, who hasn't pitched in the majors since 2016, signed a one-year deal with the Rangers in spring training but immediately developed a blister that eventually forced him to the disabled list. He had been trying to make it as a reliever, a role he's never held with any regularity during his career.
The 33-year-old made 10 relief appearances during this month's rehab assignment for Triple-A Round Rock, posting a 5.68 ERA with 10 strikeouts and nine walks.
