A backup most of his career, the 37-year-old Blanco hit .292 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 58 games for the Cubs last season.

- Jeff Kent plans to announce his retirement today at Dodger Stadium. Kent spent 17 years in the major leagues and leaves as the career home-run leader among second basemen with 351, 74 more than Ryne Sandberg. He spent the last four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting .291 with 122 doubles, 75 homers and 311 RBI.

- Right fielder Nick Markakis' six-year, $66.1 million contract was finalized by the Baltimore Orioles. The agreement covers three years the 25-year-old would have been eligible for arbitration and the first three after he would have been eligible for free agency.

- Omar Vizquel will go to spring training with the Texas Rangers, who want him to mentor 20-year-old shortstop Elvis Andrus.

- Outfielder Jayson Werth and the Philadelphia Phillies reached a preliminary agreement on a two-year, $10 million contract.

Golf

Perez Opens Hope With 61

Pat Perez shot an 11-under-par 61 to take a one-stroke lead in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in La Quinta, Calif., on a warm, still day in the desert resort area.

With playing conditions ideal, 2003 tournament champion Mike Weir and Bubba Watson opened the five-day tournament with 62s, and six players were another shot behind on the jam-packed leaderboard.

Perez, intimately familiar with how things can go in the low-scoring Hope, wasn't exactly doing handsprings over his round, which was only two shots off the PGA Tour record of 59, last matched by David Duval in the final round of his 1999 victory on the same Palmer Course at PGA West.

''Because the number is 30 under, 30 plus,'' Perez said, noting what it often takes to win the Hope when conditions are good.

- Seve Ballesteros said test results after his first course of chemotherapy came back ''quite good,'' an encouraging sign for the 51-year-old golf great.

The five-time major winner underwent four surgeries to remove a cancerous brain tumor after being admitted to a hospital on Oct. 6.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

EXTENSION FOR CALHOUN

Air Force and coach Troy Calhoun have agreed to a five-year contract worth $4.175 million that will keep him at the school through the 2013 season.

Athletic director Hans Mueh said the contract rewards Calhoun, who is 17-9 in two seasons at Air Force.

- Minnesota coach Tim Brewster hired former Denver Broncos receivers coach Jedd Fisch as offensive coordinator to replace the departed Mike Dunbar.

BOXING

PACQUIAO-HATTON IS OFF

Manny Pacquiao's refusal to accept terms already agreed to by his promoter apparently has scuttled the planned May 2 fight between him and British fighter Ricky Hatton.

Promoters for both fighters said the fight is off with little chance of it being revived.