MLB News Blog

Tim Lincecum’s 19-pitch first inning was an adventure. A leadoff double to Ichiro Suzuki followed by a walk. A flyout, then a strikeout on a double steal. And a two-run single by — surprise — old San Francisco teammate Ryan Garko. Eric Byrnes eventually grounded out. Lincecum, the two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, doesn’t quite look like himself yet at spring training and struggled…

The Los Angeles Dodgers are looking into contingency plans for their opening-day bullpen while Ronald Belisario tries to report to camp. Belisario has been unable to secure a visa for the 2010 season and remains in his native Venezuela. The right-hander went 4-3 with a 2.04 ERA in 69 games as a rookie last year, helping Los Angeles win the NL West.

John Lackey is off to a nice start with the Red Sox. The right-hander threw three shutout innings in Boston’s 8-2 victory over Jason Bay and the New York Mets on Thursday. Lackey allowed three hits in his second spring outing and has yet to allow a run since he finalized an $82.5 million, five-year contract with the Red Sox in December.

Cuban Leslie Anderson has agreed in principle to a contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays said Thursday that some details of the deal with the 27-year-old first baseman-outfielder are still being worked out. Anderson is a former member of the Cuban national team.

Chicago White Sox ace Mark Buehrle won’t have his second start of spring training until next Monday as the club seeks to keep him rested before the regular season begins. Buehrle made his first start on March 5 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing an unearned run on three hits with two strikeouts over two innings.

Brian Giles says the pain in his arthritic right knee is getting worse, and the 39-year-old outfielder informed the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday that he will retire. Giles is a career .291 hitter with 287 home runs and 1,078 RBI in 1,847 games. The two-time All-Star also played for the San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland, calling his trip to the World Series with the Indians in…

Arizona manager A.J. Hinch says there’s an increasing chance that Brandon Webb will start the season on the disabled list. Webb reached what Hinch called a “plateau” in his comeback from shoulder surgery. He has not thrown a bullpen session for a week after saying he felt “stagnant” and was not making the progress he expected.

All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes has been told to rest and refrain from athletic activity for 2-to-8 weeks until his thyroid levels normalize, another blow to the New York Mets before opening day. Center fielder Carlos Beltran already is expected to miss the first month of the season following right knee surgery Jan.

First baseman Todd Helton and the Colorado Rockies agreed Thursday to $9.9 million, two-year contract extension through the 2013 season. The first baseman is earning $16.6 million this year, and he agreed to defer $13.1 million of his $19.1 million salary in 2011 over a 10-year period beginning in 2014.

Mets shortstop Jose Reyes has been told to rest and refrain from athletic activity until his thyroid levels normalize. Reyes was taken out of the lineup March 4 for additional medical tests, and the team said Tuesday that he has an overactive thyroid. New York said Thursday that Reyes has been told to change his diet and will be able to resume playing baseball when his thyroid levels are normal.