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First baseman Todd Helton and the Rockies agreed yesterday to a $9.9 million, two-year contract extension through the 2013 season.
Helton is earning $16.6 million this year, and he agreed to defer $13 million of his $19.1 million salary in 2011 over a 10-year period beginning in 2014.
Colorado had a $23 million option for 2012 with a $4.6 million buyout as part of the $141.5 million, nine-year contract that began with the 2003 season.
Instead, he will make $10.7 million in salary and signing bonus next year, not including the deferred money, and then will receive $4.9 million in 2012 and $5 million in 2013.
Helton had back surgery in September 2008. He returned last year to hit .325 in 151 games with 38 doubles, 15 home runs, and 86 RBIs.
Slow going for Webb
Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch said there’s an increasing chance that 2006 NL Cy Young winner 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’’ . . . Mets All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes has been told to rest and refrain from athletic activity for 2-8 weeks until his thyroid levels normalize, another blow to the team before Opening Day. Center fielder Carlos Beltran already is expected to miss the first month of the season following right knee surgery Jan. 13.Giles is all done
Brian Giles said the pain in his arthritic right knee is getting worse, and the 39-year-old outfielder informed the Dodgers of his retirement. Giles was a career .291 hitter with 287 home runs and 1,078 RBIs in 1,847 games . . . The Dodgers are looking into contingency plans for their bullpen because righthander Ronald Belisario has been unable to secure a visa for the 2010 season and remains in his native Venezuela . . . Yankees backup catcher Francisco Cervelli will begin wearing a bulky protective helmet after he sustained a concussion after being beaned by a 94-mile-per-hour pitch Saturday.
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