Giants’ Tim Lincecum wins his second straight Cy Young Award

San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum won the National League Cy Young Award on Thursday for the second straight year, emerging from one of the tightest votes in the history of the honor to become the first repeat winner since Randy Johnson.

The wiry right-hander, nicknamed “the Freak” for his giant stride, needed only 15 victories to earn the award -- the fewest for a Cy Young starter over a non-shortened season.

Lincecum led the NL with 261 strikeouts and tied for the league lead with four complete games and two shutouts. Only 10 points separated the top three vote-getters. Chris Carpenter was second and St. Louis teammate Adam Wainwright was third despite getting the most first-place votes.

Lincecum teamed with Matt Cain to give the Giants a strong 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation, helping them stay in contention all year in one of baseball’s biggest surprises. He was 15-7 with a 2.48 earned-run average.

Heilman traded

Reliever Aaron Heilman was acquired by the Arizona Diamondbacks from the Chicago Cubs for two minor league prospects. The 31-year-old right-hander was 4-4 with a 4.11 ERA in 70 appearances last season, striking out 65 and walking 34.

He spent six seasons with the New York Mets before he was traded to Seattle last December, then was dealt to the Cubs a month later.

Angels staff returns

The Angels announced that their entire coaching staff, including bench coach Ron Roenicke, batting instructor Mickey Hatcher and pitching coach Mike Butcher, will return for the 2010 season.

Also returning will be third base coach Dino Ebel, first base coach Alfredo Griffin, bullpen coach Orlando Mercado and bullpen catcher Steve Soliz. Roenicke, who served six years as a third base coach, Hatcher and Griffin have all been with the Angels since Mike Scioscia took over as manager in 2000.

-- Mike DiGiovanna Free agency

The New York Yankees’ Andy Pettitte and the Mets’ Fernando Tatis became the final players to file for free agency this year, on the last day of the post-World Series window.