Helton arrested on DUI charge

The Colorado Rockies and star first baseman Todd Helton are facing the harsh reality on the eve of his farewell season that the longtime face of the franchise now has a police mug shot. The five-time AllStar was arrested about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Denver suburb of Thornton and charged with drunken driving and careless driving. Helton was arrested after someone called police to report a drunken driver, police said. They said Helton’s blood-alcohol content was over the legal limit but they haven’t released the number. Helton is a career .320 hitter. The 39-year-old played only 69 games last year before undergoing hip surgery in August.

Shortstop Alex Gonzalez and the Milwaukee Brewers have finalized a $1.45 million, one-year contract. The deal, agreed to Jan. 29 and completed Wednesday, allows Gonzalez to earn an additional $800,000 in performance bonuses: $100,000 each for 45, 60, 70 and 90 games played, and $100,000 apiece for 45, 60, 70 and 90 starts. Gonzalez, 35, hit .259 last year in his first season with the Brewers and had 4 home runs and 15 RBI in 81 at-bats.

The Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a one-year deal, $3.06 million deal with right-hander Mike Leake, avoiding salary arbitration with their fifth starter. The deal leaves three Reds still facing arbitration: starters

Mat Latos and Homer Bailey and outfielder Shin-Soo Choo. Leake made $507,500 last season, when he went 8-9 with a 4.58 earned run average in 30 starts, a career high. He asked for $3.5 million in arbitration, and the club offered $2,650,000. He will compete with left-hander Aroldis Chapman for a spot in the rotation. He will make an additional $25,000 if he reaches 180 innings pitched.