By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO–Who would have ever thought that the San Francisco Giants would open another season this week, and one of their key components over the last nine years is gone.

Tim Lincecum, who made his major league debut on May 6, 2007 at AT&T Park against the Philadelphia Phillies is not even on a major league roster as the season begins tonight.

Lincecum, who won back-to-back National League Cy Young Awards in 2008 and 2009, was not re-signed by the Giants after the 2015 season and is now a free agent.

The 31-year old right hander put on a show in his first three full seasons, as helped lead the Giants to their first World Series championship since moving to San Francisco in 1958, when the Giants defeated the Texas Rangers in the 2010 World Series. It was Lincecum who was the winning pitcher in that Game Five victory over Cliff Lee at The Ballpark in Arlington.

During the 2011 season, Lincecum went 14-15, despite an earned run average of 2.74, finishing fourth in the NL with that ERA.

Lincecum came back to the Giants in 2012 after signing a two-year $40.5 million dollar contract, and he rejected their five-year $100 million dollar offer that would make him a free agent after the 2013 season.

It was during the 2012 NLDS that Lincecum would move to the bullpen, and it was in Game a Four that his experience came in huge. Lincecum pitched 4.1 innings, leading the Giants to a victory.

Lincecum returned to form in 2013, as he pitched his first ever no-hitter, a 9-0 shutout over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park and struck out 13 in the process.

After the season, the Giants and Lincecum agreed to another two-year contract extension worth $35 million dollars.

On June 25, 2014 against the Padres at AT&T Park, Lincecum pitched his second career no-hitter against the Padres. It would have a perfect game, but Chase Headley reached on a walk in the top of the second inning.

Lincecum pitched only 15 times in the 2015 season, and ended his season with a 7-4 record with a 4.13 earned run average.

It will be very strange to the Giants lineup on the third base on Monday at Miller Park, and Lincecum will not be there to be introduced.