Tim Lincecum asks for $13 million in salary arbitration

Two-time National League Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum asked for a record $13 million in salary arbitration Tuesday, but the San Francisco Giants offered their ace $8 million.

Lincecum is seeking the richest contract ever awarded in arbitration, surpassing the $10 million that Alfonso Soriano (2006) and Francisco Rodriguez (2008) received after losing cases and Ryan Howard received after winning his in 2008.

If Lincecum and the Giants don’t settle, an arbitration panel will hold a hearing next month and pick one of the salaries.

Lincecum’s case is an interesting test because few players have entered salary arbitration with credentials similar to his. Called up early in the 2007 season, the right-hander has a 40-17 record with a 2.90 earned-run average.

He won the Cy Young Award in his first two full seasons, becoming the first repeat winner since Randy Johnson from 1999 to 2002. Lincecum was paid $650,000 last year.

Earlier Tuesday, Lincecum agreed to pay $513 to resolve marijuana charges against him in Washington state. He paid a speeding ticket separately.

In an unexpected twist, Bengie Molina is coming back to the Giants after all.

The free-agent catcher reached a preliminary agreement with San Francisco on a one-year contract, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was pending a physical and had not been completed.

Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners are closing in on a five-year contract that would avoid arbitration and prevent him from becoming a free agent after the 2011 season, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

The Minnesota Twins have agreed to contracts with all eight of their players in arbitration, including pitcher Carl Pavano, shortstop J.J. Hardy and outfielder Delmon Young.

A person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a $9.35-million, one-year contract with closer Jonathan Papelbon. . . . The Arizona Diamondbacks and shortstop Stephen Drew avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $3.4-million, one-year contract. . . . Jose Valverde joined the Detroit Tigers as their closer after a $14-million, two-year contract was finalized. . . . Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed starter Zach Duke avoided a possible arbitration hearing by agreeing to a $4.3-million, one-year contract. . . . Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry will be inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame this summer.

ETC.

Calhoun takes medical leave

Connecticut men’s basketball Coach Jim Calhoun took a medical leave for an undisclosed condition, the latest health concern for the 67-year-old Hall of Fame member.

The school did not provide additional details. Calhoun had prostate cancer in 2003 and skin cancer twice, most recently in 2008.

Peter Schulman, the coach’s primary-care physician, said in a statement he advised Calhoun to take time off “to address some temporary medical issues, none of which involve any previous medical conditions that he has dealt with.”

Associate head coach George Blaney will run the Huskies in Calhoun’s absence. Connecticut is 11-6 and fell out of the top 25 this week after losing three straight games.

Times columnist and former sports editor Bill Dwyre has been named California sportswriter of the year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Assn. Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe was named national sportswriter of the year, and Jim Nantz of CBS Sports was named national sportscaster.