With 'pen in good shape, Lincecum released

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have activated pitcher Tim Lincecum from the 60-day disabled list and given him his outright release.
Lincecum's 30-day medical rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Round Rock was due to expire on Tuesday and the Rangers did not have room for him in their Major League bullpen. Lincecum pitched in 10 games at Round Rock with a 5.68 ERA and a 1.82 WHIP. In 12 2/3 innings, he allowed 14 hits, walked nine and struck out 10.
"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. "He threw OK, he was inconsistent with his command. We are not of the mindset that he was an upgrade over our relievers. Our bullpen has been very good for a period of time and we were at a spot where we had to make a call."
The Rangers signed Lincecum as a free agent on March 7 after he sat out all of last season. Lincecum was a two-time National League Cy Young Award winner with the Giants and has been almost exclusively a starter his entire career.
The Rangers signed him with the idea of using him as a reliever, but his chances of making the Opening Day roster ended when he developed a blister in his right middle finger. Once the season started, the Rangers decided to put him on the 60-day disabled list and give him sufficient time to get ready. But he never pitched his way into being a viable option at the Major League level.
"I talked to Tim … he understood, appreciated the opportunity and was sorry it didn't work out," Daniels said.
The Rangers broached the idea of taking Lincecum off the roster and having him pitch on outright assignment at Round Rock. Those discussions did not get far.
"He didn't want to do that and ultimately this is the best thing to do," Daniels said. "Obviously we took a calculated risk in Spring Training based on what we had seen. We knew there were a variety of outcomes and this one didn't play out."
Lincecum told the Rangers he will return to the West Coast and continue a throwing program with the possibility of catching on with another team.