Robinson remains a Net

The New Jersey Nets have come to terms on a new contract with forward Clifford Robinson. Terms of the deal were undisclosed for the unrestricted free agent, but Robinson's signing should become official in the next few days.

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Robinson was suspended for five games after violating the terms of the league's anti-drug program and missed the final three contests of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Miami Heat.

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Robinson averaged 6.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest with the Nets last season. He was acquired by New Jersey from Golden State in the middle of the 2004-05 campaign. The Nets also requested waivers on guard Zoran Planinic Friday.

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Last season with New Jersey, the former first-round pick averaged just 3.4 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. Taken 22nd overall in 2003, Planinic averaged 3.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 148 games over three seasons. Named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team twice (2001-02 & 1999-00), Robinson won the 1992-93 NBA Sixth Man Award when he played for Portland.

Liriano out indefinitely with strained elbow ligament

An enhanced MRI scan performed on Minnesota Twins rookie pitcher Francisco Liriano showed a very mild, chronic strain of his collateral ligament in his left elbow.

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Liriano, who was placed on the disabled list Thursday, is receiving physical therapy, but will be sidelined indefinitely. Also, Liriano has told the team of rotator cuff weakness and stiffness in his left shoulder, which is contributing to his elbow problems.

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Liriano owns a 12-3 record with a major league-best 2.19 earned run average in 27 games, including 15 starts, this season.

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The left-hander allowed four runs on 10 hits in four innings of work in his last start on Monday against Detroit.

Celtics Pierce has successful elbow surgery

Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce underwent successful minor arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow on Wednesday. The surgery was performed by team physician Dr. Brian McKeon at New England Baptist Hospital.

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Pierce will begin rehabilitation immediately and is expected to return by the start of training camp. Pierce has spent each of his eight NBA seasons with the Celtics, who made him the 10th overall pick of the 1998 NBA Draft after a standout collegiate career at Kansas.

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He has averaged 23.5 points with 6.5 rebounds and is the eighth- leading scorer in Celtics history.

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Pierce, a five-time All-Star and team captain, averaged a career-high 26.8 points with 6.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists during the 2005-06 season.

Yanks activate Cano, send Cairo to DL

The New York Yankees activated second baseman Robinson Cano from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday and he started in the Yankees' 6-5 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

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Cano, who was voted to the American League All-Star team this season, had been out of action since late June with a strained left hamstring.

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The 23-year-old Cano finished 3-for-5 and now owns a .330 batting average with four home runs and 27 RBI in 2006.

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To make room on the roster for Cano, the Yankees placed infielder Miguel Cairo on the 15-day DL, also with a strained left hamstring. Cairo was injured during New York's 5-0 loss in Baltimore on Saturday.

Indians lock up Lee through 2009 season

The Cleveland Indians signed southpaw pitcher Cliff Lee to a three-year contract extension with a club option for the 2010 season on Tuesday. The 27-year-old Lee is coming off a dominating 2005 campaign, compiling an 18-5 mark with a 3.79 earned run average while finishing fourth in the American League Cy Young Award voting.

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Lee became the first Indian to lead the league in winning percentage since Bob Feller in 1951 and his fourth place showing in the Cy Young voting was the highest by a member of the Tribe since 1999.

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Lee's 2006 season has resembled the club's up-and-down play, as the left- hander has a 9-8 record and a 4.75 ERA in a team-high 23 starts.

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Since the beginning of last season, the Indians have tied up designated hitter and bona fide slugger Travis Hafner, staff ace CC Sabathia, catcher Victor Martinez, outfielder Grady Sizemore, infielder Jhonny Peralta and Lee to long- term contracts.

Red Sox acquire Lopez from Orioles

The Boston Red Sox acquired catcher Javy Lopez from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday in exchange for cash and a player to be named later. To replace Lopez on the active roster, the Orioles signed catcher Chris Widger.

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Lopez, who became frustrated with his role in Baltimore, is hitting just .265 with eight homers and 31 RBI in 76 games this season. He was upset with Orioles management after the team acquired catcher Ramon Hernandez this past off-season. He then lost his role as designated hitter to Jay Gibbons during the year. After the non-waiver trade deadline passed, he felt the team should've just released him.

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Lopez is in the final year of a three-year, $22.5 million contract. He has a .288 career batting average with 260 homers and 860 RBI in 15 seasons with the Atlanta Braves and Orioles. He is also a veteran of the postseason and has the ability to help the Red Sox down the stretch.

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Boston felt it needed to make a move for a catcher with a powerful bat after veteran Jason Varitek went down with a knee injury earlier this week that required surgery on Thursday.

Tampa Bay, cornerback Barber agree to contract extension

Pro Bowl cornerback Ronde Barber has the opportunity to finish his career where it started, as Tampa Bay signed the shutdown defensive back to a contract extension on Wednesday.

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The Buccaneers wanted to make sure Barber stayed in town beyond the 2006 campaign, as his contract was set to expire next March. If the deal would have run out, Barber would have been a commodity on the free agent market.

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Barber has 28 career interceptions, which puts him only three behind the club's all-time leader Donnie Abraham. He also sits sixth on the franchise's career tackle list with 770 tackles, which is the most by a cornerback in team history.

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The defensive back has made three Pro Bowls in his distinguished nine-year career, while helping the club win a Super Bowl in 2002.

Bruschi may have broken wrist

New England Patriots veteran linebacker Tedy Bruschi may have fractured his wrist on Monday, according to a report in the Boston Herald.

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The 33-year-old Bruschi, who returned to the gridiron last October after suffering a stroke, apparently was hurt in Monday's morning practice and missed both sessions on Tuesday. He is expected to be out at least a week while the severity of the injury is determined.

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Widely considered the emotional leader of the Patriots, Bruschi helped form a modern-day dynasty that has won three Super Bowls over the past five years.

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The 6-1, 247-pounder out of the University of Arizona has racked up 541 tackles, 27 sacks and 11 interceptions in his 10 NFL seasons, all with New England.

Twins reinstated outfielder Torii Hunter

The Minnesota Twins reinstated outfielder Torii Hunter from the 15-day disabled list and he had three hits, including a three-run homer, and drove in four runs, as the Minnesota Twins downed the Texas Rangers, 15-2, to begin a three-game series at the Metrodome.

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Minnesota is 8 1/2 games behind Detroit in the AL Central, however is just one game behind the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees for the wild card spot.

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"Every game from here on out is going to be big, especially since we're trying to take that wild card away," Hunter said. "We want to win the division, but let's be real. We're so close to the wild card, we can taste it. We have to focus on that".

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The center fielder was placed on the DL on July 16 with a stress fracture in his left foot. Hunter is batting .274 with 15 home runs and 53 RBI in 89 games this season with the Twins. He owns a .268 career batting average with 148 homers and 559 RBI. Hunter belted a three-run homer in the fourth inning of Monday's game and singled in a run in the second.