Off the wire

— BASEBALL Jones arrested

The wife of former Atlanta Braves star Andruw Jones accused him of dragging her down a staircase, grabbing her neck and saying wanted to kill her, according to police records. A police report obtained by The Associated Press said the fight happened around 1:30 a.m. Eastern on Christmas Day, after Nicole Jones asked her husband to help her prepare their suburban Atlanta home for Christmas morning. Andruw Jones, 35, was free on bond after his arrest on a battery charge, according to Gwinnett (Ga.) County Jail records. It wasn’t known Wednesday whether he has an attorney. Nicole Jones told officers that she tried to escape upstairs, but her husband grabbed her by the ankle and dragged her down some stairs, got on top of her and said, “I want to kill you,” according to the report. “Due to Andruw’s level of intoxication, Nicole said that she was able to push him back and move away from him,” the report states. Nicole Jones then went to her parents’ house. Police said they found injuries on her neck, whichthey photographed for evidence. When officers arrived at the Jones residence in the Sugarloaf Country Club in Duluth, they said he appeared confused about what had happened. “We entered into the bedroom and announced ‘Gwinnett County police,”’ an officer wrote in the report. “Andruw did not respond and it appeared as thoughhe was passed out in his clothes,” the officer wrote. “I touched Andruw on the arm and said ‘Gwinnett County police, Andruw, we need to speak with you.’ Andruw woke up and appeared dazed. He appeared heavily intoxicated andconfused about why officers were standing in his bedroom.”

The Texas Rangers have completed a one-year contract with free agent catcher A.J. Pierzynski. The two-time All-Star who was passed over for what would have been his third selection by Rangers Manager Ron Washington will be the starter at catcher for Texas and figures to see time at designated hitter. Pierzynski, who turns 36 on Sunday, hit .278 with a career-high 27 home runs in 135 games for the Chicago White Sox last season. The Rangers lost Mike Napoli in free agency and re-signed Geovany Soto at a reduced salary after he hit .196 in 47 games following a trade with the Chicago Cubs. To make room for Pierzynski on the 40-man roster, the Rangers designated catcher Luis Martinez for assignment.Soto became a free agent when the Rangers didn’t agree to a contract before a deadline earlier this month. But he eventually agreed to a $2.75 million, one-year contract, a more than 20 percent decrease from his $4.3 million payroll last season. Pierzynski is a .284 career hitter in 1,629 games with the White Sox (2005-2012), San Francisco (2004) and Minnesota (1998-2003).

The Seattle Mariners officially announced their $2.75 million, one-year deal with outfielder Raul Ibanez, returning the veteran to where he began his major league career in 1996. Seattle made the move official Wednesday after clearing a spot on its 40-man roster by designating for assignmentright-handed pitcher D.J. Mitchell, who was acquired from the New York Yankees in the trade last July for Ichiro Suzuki. The deal allows Ibanez to earn an additional $1.25 million in performance bonuses. This will be his third stint with the Mariners, after rejoining them from 2004-2008. Seattle General Manager Jack Zduriencik said the team wanted to add veteran leadership in the offseason, and Ibanez provides that. The 40-year-old Ibanez hit .240 with 19 home runs and 62 RBI in 384 at-bats for the New York Yankees last season.

BASKETBALL Nebraska’s Biggs cited

Nebraska guard Deverell Biggs has been cited on suspicion of driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident in Omaha last weekend. According to a police report, Biggs backed his Chevrolet Suburban into a Bellevue man’s vehicle about 1:35 a.m. Sunday. Biggs spoke briefly to the other driver and drove off. Police stopped Biggs several miles away. His blood-alcohol content measured .134, over the legal limit of .08. Biggs, 20, also was cited for minor in possession and unsafe backing. Biggs is sitting out as a redshirt junior this season. Coach Tim Miles said in a text message Wednesday he’s “greatly disappointed in the report and Deverell’s actions.” No decision has been made on disciplinary action. There was no answer on Biggs’ cell phone.

Sports, Pages 16 on 12/27/2012

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