Baseball-Major League Baseball roundup

Nov 24 (The Sports Xchange) - San Francisco is zeroing in on a couple of free agents to fill at least one spot in its rotation and veteran right-hander John Lackey is squarely in the Giants' sights. The 37-year-old workhorse for the St. Louis Cardinals threw 218 innings this past season while compiling a 13-10 record in 33 starts. He posted an ERA of 2.77. Since 2003, Lackey has thrown at least 160 innings. - - - Let the bidding begin. Another ace starting pitcher from Japan wants to come to America. Right-hander Kenta Maeda of the Hiroshima Carp in the Japan Central League has asked the Carp to post him, which would set the wheels in motions for clubs to bid on the 27-year-old. Twice Maeda has been named the league's best pitcher. Since 2008, he has compiled a 97-67 with a 2.39 ERA. - - - New San Diego Padres manager Andy Green has hired former Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coach Mark McGwire to be his bench coach. McGwire had been in the Dodgers' dugout the past three seasons as hitting coach, but his contract was not renewed. He was being considered as a candidate to become Arizona's hitting coach, but took himself out of the running. - - - Two-time National League Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum is ahead of schedule with his rehab from hip surgery that took place in September. The 31-year-old Lincecum, who has spent his entire career with the San Francisco Giants, is a free agent this offseason. He reportedly will be healthy enough to throw for scouts in January. - - - Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto on Tuesday refuted a report that second baseman Robinson Cano was unhappy and would seek a trade. According to multiple reports, Cano had indicated he was unhappy with the management change in Seattle and wanted out. But one of Cano's representatives contacted Dipoto and said the high-priced second baseman wants to stay with the Mariners. - - - (Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)