Lincecum asks for $13M in arbitration
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum has asked for a Major League Baseball record $13 million in salary arbitration, sources say.
Without naming its sources, the San Jose Mercury News reported Tuesday Lincecum's bid is believed to be the highest ever submitted by a player in his first year of arbitration eligibility -- eclipsing the $10 million asked for and received by Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard in 2008.
The newspaper said the Giants have countered with an $8 million offer. An arbitrator must choose one or the other offer to serve as the 2010 payday for Lincecum, 25, the first pitcher to win Cy Young Awards in each of his first two big league seasons.
News of the arbitration request came as Lincecum appeared in a Washington state court on marijuana charges. The (Vancouver, Wash.) Columbian said the pitcher Tuesday resolved charges of the use of drug paraphernalia and possessing marijuana after charges were reduced to a civil infraction by a Clark County, Wash., judge.
The newspaper said the infraction requires Lincecum to pay a $513 fine.
"I'll try not to let this happen again, move forward and continue with my life," Lincecum told the court.
Giants, Molina agree to one-year deal
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- The San Francisco Giants and free agent catcher Bengie Molina have agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million deal, the player's family says.
Molina had been widely expected to leave the Giants and sign with the New York Mets. His wife confirmed Tuesday the 35-year-old catcher is staying in San Francisco, CBS 5 reported.
"We're excited to be returning to San Francisco," Molina's wife, Jamie, told the broadcaster.
Giants General Manager Brian Sabean had said Molina likely wouldn't return and was reportedly hoping to land a three-year deal with the Mets. ESPN reported Tuesday Molina turned down New York's offer and the Mets were instead attempting to sign free agent pitcher Joel Pineiro.
Molina has hit at least 15 home runs and batted at least .276 in each of the past four seasons, CBS 5 said.
Saints' McAllister retires after comeback
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister retired only a week after the team tapped him to serve as an honorary captain, officials said Tuesday.
The Saints said McAllister was placed on the reserve/retired list.
McAllister returned to the team last week, 11 months after he was released after establishing franchise records of 6,096 rushing yards and 55 total touchdowns in 97 regular-season games over eight seasons.
McAllister, however, did not appear in Saturday's playoff win over the Arizona Cardinals.
He was a key part of the Saints squad that advanced to the 2006 NFC Championship Game but has hampered by injuries in his final two seasons, and lost playing time with coming of younger running backs Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas.
George resigns from Indy Speedway board
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Tony George, founder of the Indy Racing League, resigned Tuesday from the board of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, officials said.
A statement issued by Mari Hulman George, Tony's mother and chairman of the Speedway's parent firm Hulman & Co., said George had exited the board of that company as well, ESPN reported.
"As members of his family, we are sorry to see Tony leave," Mari Hulman George said in the statement. "We are grateful for his service to our company as a board member and of course for formerly serving as CEO and president of our companies."
George, 50, had served as Hulman & Co.'s chief executive officer from 1989 until he was effectively forced out in June, ESPN said. He had remained a board member of Hulman & Co. and IMS.
George's bid to compete with the CART IndyCar World Series by establishing the IRL -- with the Indianapolis 500 as its centerpiece -- polarized the open-wheel racing world, the broadcaster said.
During the period, the sport lost fans and sponsors to NASCAR's stock car racing product.
ESPN said George is expected to remain involved in the Indy car arena as the owner of Vision Racing.
