Report: Dodgers a finalist for Tim Lincecum, but he picks AL West team

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UPDATE (12:36pm PT on Tuesday): Stand down, Giants fans. Tim Lincecum isn't going to the Dodgers.

The former Giants' ace is in "deep into talks" with the Texas Rangers on a one-year major league deal, according to Yahoo Sports.

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SCOTTSDALE -- Tim Lincecum might get a statue at AT&T Park one day, but it's possible his next pitch at the ballpark will lead to boos. 

Lincecum is close to picking a new team, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, who reports that the rival Dodgers are one of the finalists for Lincecum's services. Per Heyman, the Dodgers and Rangers are the known teams that are willing to give Lincecum a major league deal. 

The Giants were one of more than a dozen teams to attend Lincecum's showcase in the Seattle area earlier this month and they came away impressed. Team officials had some concerns, though, stating that they needed to see more to determine if Lincecum's stuff truly had returned. The Giants are also right up against the luxury tax number, and the addition of a player on a major league deal could have serious payroll implications. 

While the Rangers have less starting pitching depth than most, the Dodgers could be an interesting home. They have repeatedly juggled their rotation the last couple of years to maximize rest for starters, and they have shown an ability to find impact relievers in players other teams gave up on. 

On the other hand, the Dodgers are in World Series or bust mode, and Lincecum posted a 9.16 ERA the last time he was in the majors. He hasn't pitched since a nine-start run with the Angels in 2016, but he was hitting 92 mph in his showcase. 

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