Monday, February 13, 2012

PRO BASKETBALL

Pistons’ Wallace says this season will be his last

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. | Ben Wallace insists this is his last season - without a doubt.

The Detroit veteran says he is looking forward to spending time with his family. Wallace, 37, decided to come back for 2011-12, his 16th season in the NBA. He’s tied with Avery Johnson for the most games played by an undrafted player since the NBA-ABA merger, and Wallace can break that mark Tuesday night when the Pistons host the San Antonio Spurs.

He is a four-time NBA defensive player of the year and helped the Pistons win the 2004 championship.

BASEBALL

Athletics agree to four-year contract with Cespedes

OAKLAND, Calif. | Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes and the Oakland Athletics have agreed to a $36 million, four-year contract. Cespedes will earn an average of $9 million per season. He can become a free agent at the end of the contract.

The A’s, hoping to be given clearance from Major League Baseball to relocate to San Jose and construct a ballpark, have been in rebuilding mode this offseason. Oakland traded starting pitchers Gio Gonzalez (Washington) and Trevor Cahill (Arizona) and also All-Star closer Andrew Bailey (Boston).

c David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $14,575,000. Ortiz, 36, hit .309 with 29 homers and 96 RBI last year. He is fifth in team history with 320 homers, 59 behind Dwight Evans for fourth place, and sixth with 1,028 RBI, 219 behind Bobby Doerr for fifth place.

PRO FOOTBALL

Moss, 35, planning comeback in NFL

CHARLESTON, W.Va. | Randy Moss once said, “I play when I want to play.” Six months after retiring, the veteran NFL wide receiver wants to play again.

Moss announced on a webchat Monday - his 35th birthday - that he’s planning a comeback.

Moss posted on his Twitter page: “Now back to biz!! There’s good an bad an u have to b ready for both! its in gods hand now.”

Moss retired last August, compiling 14,858 receiving yards and 153 touchdowns in 13 seasons.

He last played in 2010, being traded by the New England Patriots to the Minnesota Vikings before finishing the season with Tennessee. That year, he had career lows of 28 catches for 393 yards.

c Chicago Bears linebacker J.T. Thomas, 23, is facing a misdemeanor drug possession charge after police in Morgantown, W.Va., said they caught him driving the wrong way down a one-way street and found marijuana in his car. Thomas was a rookie for the Bears in 2011 and spent the season on injured reserve.

c From wire dispatches and staff reports

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