Cubs, Wood reach a deal

Kerry Wood, who made a switch to the bullpen last season after a swift recovery from shoulder problems, agreed Monday to a $4.2-million, one-year deal to return to the Chicago Cubs.

Wood, the 1998 National League rookie of the year, can make an additional $3.45 million in performance bonuses based largely on games finished. He had a $1.75-million salary this year.

The right-hander was 1-1 with a 3.33 earned-run average in 22 relief appearances. He didn’t join the team until Aug. 5, when he made his first appearance since June 2006.

General Manager Jim Hendry said Wood is likely to join Carlos Marmol and Bobby Howry at the back end of the bullpen, with exact roles to be determined by Manager Lou Piniella and pitching coach Larry Rothschild.

“He threw tremendously well the last couple weeks of the season and certainly should go to camp with a great opportunity to pitch late in the game,” Hendry said.

A federal appeals court in St. Louis denied a petition to rehear an attempt by the Major League Baseball Players Assn. and Major League Baseball Advanced Media to reverse a ruling that allowed a fantasy baseball company to use players’ names and statistics without a licensing fee.

The motion was denied without explanation. The MLBPA can still ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.

The MLBPA had argued that players should be paid when their names are used for fantasy leagues, in the same way players are paid when their names are used to endorse products.

The court found fantasy leagues’ use of stats isn’t the same as faking a player’s endorsement and not paying him.

A full World Series share was worth $308,236 for the Boston Red Sox, down from the record $362,173 set by the St. Louis Cardinals last year. NL champion Colorado, swept by the Red Sox, voted 44 full shares of $233,505. Mandy Coolbaugh, the widow of Rockies minor league coach Mike Coolbaugh, was voted a full share. Coolbaugh was killed when struck by a foul ball during a game in July.

Revenue was down because Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox, has the smallest capacity among major league ballparks.

Tim Raines and David Justice head 11 first-time candidates on the baseball writers’ 2008 Hall of Fame ballot, joining Mark McGwire, Rich Gossage, Jim Rice and 11 other holdovers.

Brady Anderson, Rod Beck, Shawon Dunston, Chuck Finley, Travis Fryman, Chuck Knoblauch, Robb Nen, Jose Rijo and Todd Stottlemyre also are first-time candidates.

Other holdover candidates include Andre Dawson, Bert Blyleven, Lee Smith, Jack Morris, Tommy John, Dave Concepcion, Alan Trammell, Dave Parker, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy and Harold Baines.

Results will be announced Jan. 8.

MISCELLANY

Meendering to be Labonte’s crew chief

Jeff Gordon lost his car chief when Jeff Meendering joined Petty Enterprises as crew chief for Bobby Labonte.

Meendering was Gordon’s interim crew chief during a six-race stretch this season when Steve Letarte was suspended.

Richard Paez resigned as Venezuela’s soccer coach, saying he does not want to be an obstacle in his country’s attempt to qualify for its first World Cup.

Louisiana State junior men’s basketball forward Tasmin Mitchell will undergo surgery this week after X-rays revealed a stress fracture in his left ankle, Coach John Brady said.

How long Mitchell will be sidelined will not be determined until after the operation.

The United States defeated South Korea, 25-18, 25-15, 25-18, at the men’s volleyball World Cup at Okayama, Japan, a qualifier for the Beijing Olympics.

The U.S. is in fourth place and will face Australia today. The top three teams from the 12-nation tournament will advance to next year’s Beijing Olympics.