Tim Lincecum clears waivers, accepts assignment in minors

Tim Lincecum accepted his assignment to triple-A Salt Lake after clearing waivers and will report.

The Angels designated Lincecum for assignment Saturday. Any claiming team would have had to pick up more than $800,000 remaining on the 32-year-old right-hander’s contract for the season’s final two months.

In nine starts with the Angels, Lincecum had a 9.16 earned-run average, second-worst among pitchers who have thrown as many innings this season. His fastball averaged 87.7 mph, about the same as one year ago.

The former Cy Young Award while with the San Francisco Giants winner was conflicted between trying to establish the faded fastball to set up his off-speed offerings, as he always had, and avoiding the pitch that hitters were hitting hard. After his last start, he said he resolved to throw more fastballs. He was designated the next day.

“This is not a trial-and-error theater here,” Manager Mike Scioscia said Tuesday. “You have to be able to do it.”

Lincecum attracted significant interest after a showcase in Arizona in May. But most of the teams, including the Giants, sought him as a reliever. He wanted to start, so he signed with the Angels.

He’ll be a starter at Salt Lake, where the Angels are short on starting depth. The Angels left open the possibility he could earn another chance to start in the majors, perhaps in September.

Jhoulys Chacin will start Thursday in Cleveland, filling the vacated spot in the rotation and allowing Tyler Skaggs and Matt Shoemaker an additional day of rest.

Bedrosian is put on the disabled list

Tendinitis on the right middle finger forced reliever Cam Bedrosian to the 15-day disabled list.

The Angels recalled fellow right-hander A.J. Achter from Salt Lak.

Bedrosian, 24, had ascended into the unofficial closing role with Joe Smith traded and Huston Street on the disabled list. He struck out the side for his first save and had not given up a run in two months until Aug. 3, when he blew a save opportunity.

The tendinitis was not a factor, Scioscia said, even though it had bothered Bedrosian for at least a week.

Short hops

The Angels claimed left-hander Brett Oberholtzer off waivers from Philadelphia and will add him to the 25-man roster this week. Oberholtzer, 27, has a 4.09 ERA over 304 innings, split between starting and relieving. He’ll pitch out of the bullpen as an Angel. … The Angels activated catcher Geovany Soto from the 15-day disabled list after Tuesday’s game and optioned Carlos Perez to triple-A Salt Lake. Soto will start Wednesday, Scioscia said. … Right-hander Nick Tropeano’s elbow ligament-replacement surgery has been scheduled for Aug. 16.

pedro.moura@latimes.com

Twitter: @pedromoura