Is Tim Lincecum on the Block?

It was a stellar debut year for a few young pitchers last year. Most notable, despite Clay Buchholz's incredible no-hitter on Sept. 1, was probably Giants hurler Tim Lincecum's debut season. It's rare for a young pitcher to get so much work in his first season, but Lincecum responded to the challenge with aplomb and, you know, really nasty stuff. 2007 proved it: Tim Lincecum's future is bright.

But it looks like the Giants are not all that interested in that future. Jayson Stark reported today on ESPN's winter meetings blog that San Fransisco is actively trying to deal Lincecum for the Blue Jays' Alex Rios:

• The Giants and Blue Jays have a deal on the table that would send outfielder Alex Rios to San Francisco for pitcher Tim Lincecum. But the Blue Jays appear to be more motivated to make that trade than the Giants. Two baseball men who spoke with the Giants describe them as being "indecisive" about whether they really want to move Lincecum for a big bat and, if they do, about whom they should get for him. Toronto has decided its best strategy to survive in the loaded AL East is to stockpile as many power arms as possible. So the Blue Jays would sacrifice offense if they could pick up an arm like Lincecum.

Rios is an awfully big bat to trade, but Lincecum is a potential world beater. The Jays want him to be a Red Sox and Yankees beater, too, though that might be a bit too much to ask.

Last question(s): What are the Giants thinking here? Isn't it time to rebuild? Barry's gone ... isn't youth the thing? Why trade Lincecum now, when he's just beginning to broach his talent?