UPDATE: The news is now official:
Official Statement regarding #SFGiants pitcher @TimLincecum's health status pic.twitter.com/XofTj3h6j6
— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) September 3, 2015
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The San Francisco Giants' starting rotation has been banged up for most of the 2015 MLB season and the club received even more bad news about it. Two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum will miss the rest of the year.
Giants' general manager Bobby Evans said that Lincecum is done for the season and will likely undergo hip surgery, via Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports confirmed the report and also mentioned that the right-hander went in for hip surgery early this morning, which is subject to rumors at this point.
The Giants have not confirmed Lincecum undergoing surgery.
Evans said Lincecum went to visit a specialist in Colorado on Wednesday to determine if the surgery was necessary. Heyman noted that the specialist is hip doctor Marc Philippon.
"Lincecum has already seen multiple doctors regarding his hip issue, and he and Philippon, the world-renowned specialist, are expected to make the final call after an examination Wednesday afternoon at the world-class Steadman Clinic in Vail," Heyman added.
Lincecum, 31, will become a free agent after the season and it's unknown if he'll return to San Francisco, where he has spent his entire career. The right-hander was 7-4 with a 4.13 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 60 strikeouts in 15 starts (76 1/3 innings) before hitting the disabled list in late June. He did not live up to expectations during his two-year, $35 million contract with the Giants after going 19-13 with a 4.54 ERA in 48 games (41 starts).
Evans did not entirely rule out Lincecum returning to the Giants, but it's certainly possible the veteran's last outing with the team was on June 27 against the Colorado Rockies. He surrendered three earned runs on four hits and two walks in just 1 2/3 innings before he was forced to leave the game after being hit in the elbow with a line drive.
"The next step for him is to do everything he can and get back and get well, but it's going to take him out for the season," Evans continued. "What that leads to in terms of his progression health-wise will dictate what opportunities he has with us or elsewhere."
The good news, per Heyman, is that various doctors have told Lincecum that he could "easily" be ready for spring training next year and that he "should be able to" return to form.
Stay tuned for updates on Lincecum as the day progresses.
