TUCSON, Ariz. —Arizona manager A.J. Hinch says there’s an increasing
chance that Brandon Webb(notes) 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.

Since then, the 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner has only been playing catch.
Hinch said Thursday that Webb felt better after Wednesday’s throwing session
than he had in some time, and a bullpen outing could be scheduled soon.

Webb tentatively had been penciled in as the team’s No. 3 starter with his
first outing on April 7.

TUCSON, Ariz. —First baseman Todd Helton(notes) 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.

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 receive $4.9 million in 2012 under the new deal.

“We reached out for Todd in the wintertime, and had quiet discussions,”
Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “He understood what we were trying to
do and wanted to retire as a Rockie.”

Helton was slowed by back problems in 2008 and had back surgery that
September. He returned last year to hit .325 in 151 games with 38 doubles, 15
home runs, 86 RBIs and a .416 on-base percentage.

“We think he can be a very productive player for the next years,” O’Dowd
said. “Maybe beyond that, who knows? We just didn’t want this thing to get into
the last year of his contract.”

PHOENIX —Los Angeles Angels center fielder Torii Hunter(notes) called black
Latino baseball players “impostors” when it comes to the appearance of the
number of African-Americans in the major leagues.

Hunter’s comments were made two weeks ago in one of a series of USA Today
roundtables about baseball and published in Wednesday’s editions.

“People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they’re
African-American,” Hunter said. “They’re not us. They’re impostors. Even
people I know come up and say: ‘Hey, what color is Vladimir Guerrero(notes)? Is he a
black player?’ I say, ‘Come on, he’s Dominican. He’s not black.’ …

“As African-American players, we have a theory that baseball can go get an
imitator and pass them off as us. It’s like they had to get some kind of dark
faces, so they go to the Dominican or Venezuela because you can get them
cheaper. It’s like, ‘Why should I get this kid from the South Side of Chicago
and have Scott Boras represent him and pay him $5 million when you can get a
Dominican guy for a bag of chips?’ … I’m telling you, it’s sad,” he said.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, a Venezuelan, scoffed at Hunter’s remarks
before Wednesday’s game against the Oakland Athletics. Angels spokesman Eric Kay
said Hunter will not further discuss the subject.

“I was laughing because when he said, ‘They go there and sign for potato
chips,’ I said, ‘Well, we’ve got Chapman. They gave him $12 million. (Cincinnati
actually agreed to a $30.25 million, six-year contract with pitcher Aroldis
Chapman(notes).) We’ve got (prospect Dayan) Viciedo. They gave him $10 million. I
remember in my time, one scout goes (to Venezuela and) 30 players show up. Now,
30 scouts go there and one player shows up. In our country, we play baseball.
That’s no choice. Here you can play basketball, you can be another athlete, you
can do so many things when you have the opportunity. And that’s why there’s not
many (African-American) players out there.”

There has been some concern about the number of African-American baseball
players. Many blacks are choosing to play other sports instead.

Black players accounted for 10.2 percent of major leaguers in 2008, the most
since the 1995 season, according to the University of Central Florida’s
Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports.

“I keep saying a lot of times, in 10 more years American people are going
to need a visa to play this game because we’re going to take over. We’re going
to,” Guillen said.

AP freelance writers Jose Romero in Phoenix and Jim Richards in Tempe
contributed to this report.

GLENDALE, Ariz. —On his first day as Dodgers interim manager, hitting
coach Don Mattingly confirmed Wednesday that the team has made overtures about
him eventually becoming Joe Torre’s permanent replacement.

With Torre en route to Taiwan to manage a Dodgers split squad for three
exhibition games, Mattingly is in charge of the team in Arizona and will work at
least five games as manager.

Mattingly interviewed with the Cleveland Indians for their manager opening
this offseason. He then turned down an interview request from the Washington
Nationals.

In a meeting this winter with Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, owner
Frank McCourt and team president Dennis Manion, Mattingly said the word manager
was brought up but nothing definitive was said or done.

Torre’s contract expires after this season but both he and McCourt said they
are working on a one-year extension. Mattingly would then take over the Dodgers
in 2012.

MESA, Ariz. —Cubs general manager Jim Hendry says Milton Bradley(notes) should
stop blaming the team, manager and fans for his failure to produce during his
tumultuous season in Chicago.

“I think it’s time maybe Milton looked himself in the mirror,” an agitated
Hendry said Wednesday in response to Bradley’s latest charges that he was
mistreated by the Cubs.

“He just didn’t swing the bat,” Hendry said. “He didn’t get the job done.
It’s really unfortunate that you … try to use the other areas for excuses.”

Hendry said signing Bradley to a three-year, $30 million contract before
last season was “a mistake.” He added the atmosphere of the organization has
improved since the outfielder was traded to Seattle in December.

Bradley, who batted .257 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs last season, was
regularly booed at Wrigley Field. Bradley told ESPN in an interview that aired
Tuesday that he was fearful of racist fans in Chicago and was “a prisoner in my
own home.”

Bradley also said manager Lou Piniella should have apologized in front of
the team instead of in private for a disparaging remark Piniella made during a
game in June.

FORT MYERS, Fla. —Nomar Garciaparra(notes) has retired as a member of the Boston
Red Sox.

The 1997 American League MVP signed a one-day contract with his former team
Wednesday, then announced he’s ending his 14-year career. Garciaparra will
become an analyst for ESPN.

“From the first day I had the thrill of putting on a Red Sox uniform and
playing in front of all the great fans at Fenway Park, I have felt at home in
Boston,” Garciaparra said in a release. “While I had the privilege of playing
with other legendary teams, I always saw myself retiring in a Red Sox uniform.”

A first-round draft pick in 1994, the shortstop played parts of nine seasons
in Boston, winning batting titles in 1999 and 2000. But he may be most famous in
Red Sox lore for being traded as part of a four-team deal in 2004, a move that
helped the club win its first World Series championship in 86 years.

“Nomar will always hold a special place in Red Sox history and in the
hearts of Red Sox Nation,” owner John Henry said. “His accomplishments on the
field and in the community place him among the greatest players to wear a Red
Sox uniform. We are very appreciative that Nomar is ending his career where it
began.”

Garciaparra spent the past five seasons with the Cubs, Dodgers, and A’s. The
six-time All-Star had a .313 career average with 229 home runs and 936 RBIs.

BURBANK, Calif. —Willie Davis, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ speedy center
fielder for 13 seasons, has died. He was 69.

Burbank police Sgt. Robert Quesada says Davis was found dead Tuesday morning
in his Burbank home. Davis appeared in three World Series, including 1966 when
he committed a Fall Classic-record three errors in one inning.

Quesada says no cause of death was immediately released, but police do not
believe foul play was involved.

Davis left the Dodgers in 1973 and went on to play for the Montreal Expos,
Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and California Angels.

He retired after the 1979 season with a career .279 average and 398 stolen
bases.

TAMPA, Fla. —Nick Johnson(notes) hit two home runs while working on his swing, CC
Sabathia(notes) gave up five runs trying to refine his motion and the New York Yankees
lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-7 on Tuesday.

Johnson was playing for the second straight day after sitting out since
tweaking his back Thursday when he got a cleat caught in the turf during batting
practice.

Sabathia was hit hard in his second start. He gave up a three-run homer to
Garrett Jones(notes) and allowed seven hits. He threw 55 pitches, 34 strikes, a marked
improvement over his first outing: 19 strikes, 17 balls.

Jones also had a double, and Lastings Milledge(notes) had an RBI single in the
four-run first for Pittsburgh.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. —Johan Santana(notes) struggled in his first game since
August, allowing four runs on six hits in 1 2-3 innings, and the Houston Astros
beat the New York Mets 8-4 on Tuesday.

Kaz Matsui hit a solo homer for the first of four straight hits in the first
inning off Santana, who struck out one and walked one.

The left-hander made it through the short outing with no setbacks as he
continues to build strength following Sept. 1 surgery to remove bone spurs from
his elbow. Santana had reached his pitch count when he was pulled from the game.

“They made me work today,” Santana said. “They were swinging right away,
but I feel good because I was able to throw all my pitches. I was a little off
with my mechanics and release of the ball, but that’s part of spring training.
That’s what we are here for, trying to make adjustments and throw my pitches.
The good thing is I felt good. I didn’t feel any problems with my arm.”

Astros right-hander Brett Myers(notes), the former Phillies ace who is projected as
the No. 3 starter in Houston, showed progress in his second outing of the
spring. Continuing to work on his slider, he gave up two runs on four hits in
three innings, including a two-run homer to David Wright(notes) in the first. Myers
struck out one and walked one.

Pedro Feliz(notes), another free agent pickup from the Phillies, hit a two-run
homer for Houston.

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. —Two-time All-Star Hank Blalock(notes) has agreed to a minor
league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Blalock hit .234 with 25 homers and 66 RBIs in 123 games for the Texas
Rangers last year. He missed much of the previous two seasons with injuries and
is a .269 career hitter with 152 homers and 535 RBIs.

The 29-year-old reported to spring training on Tuesday.

Tampa Bay thinks he could provide an additional left-handed hitting option
and bolster the club’s depth at first and third.

Blalock spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Rangers. He was
an All-Star in 2003 and 2004.