Off the wire

LITTLE ROCK — BASEBALL Pena, Cubs reach 1-year deal

First baseman Carlos Pena and the Chicago Cubs have agreed to a $10 million, one-year contract. Pena spent the last four seasons with Tampa Bay. He had a down year in 2010, hitting .196 with 28 home runs and 84 RBI, down from a .227 average with 39 home runs and 100 RBI the previous year, when he was selected for the AL All-Star team. His first season with the club was his best, when he batted .282 with 46 home runs and 121 RBI in 2007. The following season, he helped the Rays reach the World Series for the first time. Tampa Bay won the AL East this year but lost to Texas in five games in the American League division series, but the Rays appear to be cutting back on payroll. In addition to Pena’s departure, setup man Joaquin Benoit agreed to a $16.5 million, three-year contract with Detroit, and Gold Glove outfielder Carl Crawford and closer Rafael Soriano appear set to signelsewhere.

The Kansas City Royals say they’ve come to terms with outf ielder Jeff Francoeur on a one-year contract. The Royals announced the deal Wednesday from baseball’s winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The team says the agreement includes a mutual option for the 2012 season. The signing is pending a physical. Francoeur split the 2010 season between the New York Mets and the Texas Rangers. The 6-5, 220-pound outfielder combined to hit .249 with 13 home runs and 65 RBI and scored 52 runs in 139 games.

Free-agent slugger Jack Cust and the Mariners agreed to a oneyear contract Wednesday, giving Seattle a veteran designated hitter heading into 2011. Cust spent the past four seasons with Seattle’s AL West rival Oakland and likely will become the Mariners’ regular DH, though he also provides versatility for new Manager Eric Wedge with the ability to play the outfield. The Athletics didn’t offer a contract to Cust last week, making him a free agent. He hit .272 with 13 home runs and 52 RBI in 112 games last season. He added 68 walks for a .395 on-base percentage.

Paul Konerko has decided to stay with the Chicago White Sox, agreeing to a $37.5 million, threeyear contract. The first baseman, a four-time All-Star, gets $12 million in each of the next two seasons and $13.5 million in 2013 under Wednesday’s agreement. In the final year, $7 million will be deferred and paid annually in $1 million installments from 2014-20. The 34-year-old was fifth in voting for AL MVP this year after hitting .312 with 39 home runs and 111 RBI. He’ll be part of a lineup that now includes slugger Adam Dunn, recently signed to a $56 million, four-year deal.

BOXING

Klitschko out of title fight

Wladimir Klitschko’s boxing adviser said the Ukrainian has withdrawn from his WBO and IBF heavyweight title defense against British challenger Dereck Chisora because of a torn muscle in his back. Shelley Finkel said Wednesday that the injury isn’t serious but forced the cancellation of Saturday’s bout, which was scheduled to be held in Mannheim, Germany. Finkel said Klitschko “should be able to fight again within 60 days.” Talks are expected between the fighters’ representatives over rescheduling the fight.

ATHLETICS

Foursome pleads not guilty

Four former University of Kansas officials charged with conspiring to steal more than $2 million in tickets to athletic events have pleaded not guilty. The four appeared Wednesday in federal court in Wichita, nearly three weeks after they were indicted with conspiring to steal individual and season tickets to sporting events. They face federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Entering not guilty pleas Wednesday were former associate athletic director Charlette Blubaugh, who was in charge of the ticket office; her husband, Thomas Blubaugh; former assistant athletic director Rodney Jones, of Lawrence; and formerassociate athletic director Ben Kirtland. They were released on a $25,000 own-recognizance bond. A fifth defendant, Lawrence resident Kassie Liebsch, did not appear, but a change-of-plea hearing for her was set for Jan. 21.

HOCKEY Stars’ Lehtinen retires

Jere Lehtinen has officially retired from the NHL, ending a 14-season career spent entirely with the Dallas Stars. The 37-year-old Lehtinen had taken an extended time before deciding that he had played his last game. He announced his decision Wednesday. Lehtinen got an assist on Brett Hull’s Stanley Cup-winning goal in Game 6 of the 1999 finals at Buffalo. In 14 seasons from 1995-2010, Lehtinen appeared in 875 regular-season games, scoring 243 games with 271 assists. He also appeared in 108 playoff games, with 27 goals and 22 assists. A fivetime Olympian, Lehtinen is the only Finnish player to win a Stanley Cup and a gold medal at the World Championships (1995).

The Chicago Blackhawks have placed star forward Marian Hossa on the injured list, freeing up roster space while Patrick Kane also nurses a leg injury. The move Wednesday allowed Chicago to recall forwards Jeremy Morin and Rob Klinkhammer from the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL.

BASEBALL Yankees finally make offer to Lee

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - How hungry are the New York Yankees to sign Cliff Lee (Benton, Arkansas Razorbacks)?

Brian Cashman couldn’t have been more vivid in his description after finally making an offer Wednesday to the prized free-agent pitcher. Every other possible big move by New York must wait until the 32-year-old left-hander decides.

“Hannibal Lecter in a straitjacket right now, waiting on this Cliff Lee thing,” the Yankees general manager said. “It’s kind of restricting my movements alittle bit.”

Lee’s agent, Darek Braunecker, left the winter meetings and headed to Arkansas to meet with his client after receiving an offer from the Yankees. New York Manager Joe Girardi even called Lee “the prize of this winter.”

Cashman wouldn’tdiscuss his dinner meeting with Carl Crawford on Tuesday night - other than to say he had steak - and wouldn’t say whether the Yankees could sign both Lee and the All-Star outfielder.

Admitting he was tired, Cashman playfully discussed his job as GM of baseball’s highest-revenue franchise and thanked his bosses for giving him permission to make the publicly unspecified offer to Lee.

“I know my title is general manager, but I consider myself the director of spending of the New York Yankees. I don’t make it. I spend it,” Cashman said. “We’ve made an offer that’s not easy to be making, and I appreciate the fact that the Steinbrenners are allowing us to make an offer to this degree. ... It’s a big commitment on behalf of the fan base, and we’ll see what happens. I think we’ve done all we can do.”

New York almost acquired Lee from Seattle in July before he was dealt to Texas. Lee then helped the Rangers beat the Yankees in the American League Championship Series, putting Texas in the World Series for the first time.

“He’s a guy that wins. He’s a guy that gives you innings. He’s a guy that knows how to pitch on the big stage,” Girardi said. “Everything that you’d want, and a guy that you would ask to help you win another championship. This is a guy that has great command,never beats himself. He holds runners, has a mixture of four pitches that he can use at my time. He’s the complete package.”

Cashman met Lee in Arkansas on Nov. 10 but waited to make an offer until the pitcher was closer to being ready to make a decision.

Texas hopes to resign Lee, pointing out how close the team is to the pitcher’s home in Arkansas. Lee is close to CC Sabathia, his former Cleveland teammate, and the Yankees hope that helps them in the process.

Washington also is involved and perhaps other teams. There have been unconfirmed rumors that at least one club and possibly more are offering a sevenyear contract.

“He’s got all the information he needs from us. I assume he’s got the same from anybody else who’s got an oar in the water here,” Cashman said. “They’ve gone through Cleveland and they’ve gone through Philly and they’ve gone through Seattle and they’ve gone through Texas for the right to free agency. They’re here. So they want to make the right decision.”