Tim Lincecum unlikely to provide big rotation lift for Angels

6:36 PM ET

Tim Lincecum has agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Angels, one of the teams initially pegged as a front-runner to sign him. It makes sense for several reasons:

1. The Angels’ rotation has had issues all season, starting with the struggles of Matt Shoemaker (9.12 ERA in six starts) and Jered Weaver (6.10 ERA in seven stars) and the recent season-ending injury to Garrett Richards. The team just acquired Jhoulys Chacin from the Braves to help fill out the rotation. C.J. Wilson and Tyler Skaggs, both on the disabled list, are potential contributors down the road but aren’t ready yet, and big ifs even then, with Wilson returning from offseason elbow surgery plus shoulder soreness in spring training, and Skaggs returning from Tommy John surgery.

Tim Lincecum’s ERA over the past four seasons with the Giants was 4.68 — 5.61 on the road. Matt York/AP Photo

2. The Giants seemed to indicate they wanted Lincecum back only as a reliever, and with Jake Peavy just having his best start of the season and Matt Cain allowing three runs in 15 innings over his past two outings, they’re a little less desperate for rotation help than …

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