Lincecum, Giants agree to two-year deal
Two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants reached a verbal agreement yesterday on a two-year contract worth $40.5 million.
The deal includes a $500,000 signing bonus and salaries of $18 million this year and $22 million in 2013, a person familiar with the agreement said. Lincecum still must take a physical, which the Giants hope will happen early next week, to complete the deal.
Lincecum had asked for a near-record $21.5 million in salary arbitration and had been offered $17 million by the club. He remains eligible for free agency after the 2013 season.
The 27-year-old righthander, the winning pitcher in the Game 5 World Series clincher at Texas in 2010, earned $13.1 million last season when he finished a two-year deal worth $23.2 million.
San Francisco's offer was the highest in arbitration history, topping the $14.25 million the Yankees proposed for shortstop Derek Jeter in 2001.
Lincecum went 13-14 with a 2.74 ERA last year for his first losing record.
La Russa to manage stars
Tony La Russa will become the second retired manager to lead an All-Star team next summer, joining Hall of Famer John McGraw. La Russa concluded a 16-season run in St. Louis with the team's second World Series title in five years last October . . . The Oakland Athletics and free-agent righthander Bartolo Colon have agreed to terms on a one-year contract. Colon, 38, went 8-10 with a 4.00 ERA in 29 appearances and 26 starts last year for the Yankees in his 14th big-league season. He won the 2005 AL Cy Young Award . . . Willie Harris has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Cincinnati Reds, who invited him to spring training. Harris, 33, batted .246 with two homers and 23 RBIs in 126 games for the Mets last year . . . First baseman Carlos Peña officially rejoined the Tampa Bay Rays after passing a physical. He agreed to a one-year, $7.25-million deal last week after spending 2011 with the Chicago Cubs . . . Wilson Betemit and the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a two-year, $3.25-million contract.-- AP
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.
