Giants’ Bochy: Interest in Lincecum stronger now, plus lineup

CINCINNATI —Manager Bruce Bochy said it was “fair to say” the Giants’ interest in Tim Lincecum is higher than it was at spring training because Chris Heston, who was supposed to be the team’s long reliever, struggled in the role and is now working as a starter at Triple-A Sacramento.

[...] Bochy would not say whether the struggles of fourth and fifth starters Jake Peavy and Matt Cain would factor into how aggressively the Giants pursue the two-time Cy Young winner.

General manager Bobby Evans reitrated Monday that the Giants would sign Lincecum only as a reliever, which has been their stance ever since they added Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija to a rotation that already in included Peavy, Cain and Madison Bumgarner

Lincecum will host a long-awaited showcase at Scottsdale Stadium on Friday, with at least 20 teams attending, to show he has healed from his 2015 hip surgery and is ready to pitch in the majors again.

The Giants have not hid their interest in Lincecum if he were amenable to relieving.

Lincecum might face a choice between a guaranteed starting job with a different organization or being a long reliever in San Francisco with the chance he can return to the rotation in case of an injury or decision to remove an ineffective starter.

The Giants have options in the minors if they need a starter in Double-a and Triple-A, but Lincecum offers experience and could be an attractive option if he proves he is healthy and can pitch competitively.

Bochy was asked about the potential discomfort of having a franchise icon rejoin the team in a long relief role, not knowing when he might pitch next.

Lincecum visited the Giants in spring training and Bochy said he spoke to his former pitcher a couple of times.

Bochy spoke before Wednesday’s game against the Reds, which is being threatened by rain.

Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.