Glavine delivers himself back to Braves

Two-time National League Cy Young winner Tom Glavine returned to the Atlanta Braves last night, agreeing to an $8 million, one-year contract. The agreement between the 303-game winner and the Braves was hammered out during weekend talks, said Glavine's agent, Gregg Clifton. The pitcher already has taken a physical for Atlanta, the final formality in the deal. The Braves needed less than a week to lure Glavine back after an acrimonious split in 2002 that led to him spending five seasons with the New York Mets. The Braves are expected to formally introduce - or reintroduce - him at a news conference today at Turner Field. Glavine, who grew up in Billerica, kept his primary home in suburban Atlanta even after he signed with the Mets, and it was clear the lefthander wanted to finish his career with the Braves when he turned down a $13 million option to return to New York in 2008, taking a $3 million buyout. Glavine, who will turn 42 before the start of next season, went 13-8 with a 4.45 ERA in 200 1/3 innings for the Mets this year.

Free agent closer Mariano Rivera is expected to advise agent Fernando Cuza to accept the Yankees' three-year, $45 million offer, according to a Newsday report. Cuza may have informed the Yankees of their agreement in principle as early as last night, or could so today, the newspaper reported. Rivera, 37, had 30 saves in 34 opportunities and a 3.15 ERA in 2007 . . . Second baseman Luis Castillo decided to stay with the New York Mets, reaching a preliminary agreement on a $25 million, four-year contract. Castillo must pass a physical for the deal to be finalized. The three-time All-Star hit .296 for the Mets with 10 steals and 20 RBIs for the Mets, who acquired him from Minnesota July 30. . . . The Athletics traded utility infielder Marco Scutaro to the Blue Jays for a pair of minor league pitchers, righthanders Kristian Bell and Graham Godfrey . . . The United States won baseball's World Cup for the first time since 1974, ending Cuba's streak of nine straight titles with a 6-3 victory at Taipei, Taiwan as Jayson Nix and Jason Jaramillo drove in two runs each.

Wrapping up a sensational season, Lorena Ochoa overcame a double bogey on the 17th hole with a daring shot out of the rough and over the water to 3 feet for birdie to win the ADT Championship at West Palm Beach, Fla., and claim the $1 million prize, the richest in women's golf. Ochoa was four shots clear with two holes to play until a three-putt double bogey on the par-3 17th. Natalie Gulbis made birdie to cut the lead to one shot, and Gulbis followed with a hybrid into 15 feet on the 18th. But Ochoa never flinched. Her shot hit the front part of the green and didn't stop rolling until it was 30 inches away. Gulbis missed her putt, and Ochoa calmly rapped in her birdie for a 4-under-par 68 and a two-shot victory . . . Miguel Angel Jimenez won the Hong Kong Open for the second time in four years, taking advantage of Robert Karlsson's final-hole bogey for a one-stroke victory in the event sanctioned by the European and Asian tour. Jimenez closed with a 3-under 67 for a 15-under 265 total . . . Ian Poulter won the Dunlop Phoenix in Miyazaki, Japan, shooting a 1-under 69 for a three-stroke victory over Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano. Poulter had an 11-under 269 total

Top-ranked Roger Federer won his fourth Masters Cup title in five years, overwhelming No. 6 David Ferrer, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2, in Shanghai. It was the third consecutive dominating performance by Federer, who won his 53d career title - including eight this year - and ran his record against Ferrer to 8-0. The Spaniard was no match for Federer's blend of spins, power and volleying skills, managing only 10 winners to 38 unforced errors as he was forced to try to do too much with Federer getting everything back. Federer had 30 winners and 29 unforced errors.

Kristin Price won the Philadelphia Marathon in 2 hours 42.05 seconds to qualify for the US Olympic women's marathon trials. Kenya's Timothy Psitet took the men's title in 2:25.01 after pulling away from training partner and countryman Solomon Too at the 25-mile mark. Too was second in 2:26.03 . . . Olympic champion Mizuki Noguchi won the Tokyo International Women's Marathon. Running her first marathon in two years, Noguchi finished in 2:21:37 . . . Jeff Caron won the men's 10-kilometer race at the USATF New England Cross Country Championships at Franklin Park with a time of 30 minutes 39 seconds. Marissa Ryan won the women's 6k in 20:46.

Vancouver defenseman Mattias Ohlund was suspended for four games by the NHL for his stick-swinging hit on Minnesota forward Mikko Koivu. Koivu was injured in the third period Friday night after getting whistled for an elbowing penalty. Ohlund responded by swinging his stick and slashing Koivu, cracking a bone in the forward's left leg. He is expected to miss about a week . . . Despite goals from Pascal Pelletier and Brett Skinner, the Providence Bruins fell to Springfield, 3-2, in Providence. Patrick Thoresen, Sebastien Bisaillon, and Colin McDonald scored for the Falcons . . . Mississippi put 20 football players on probation after they twice stole items from hotels. A news release said the players have paid for the items, which included radios and pillows. A spokesman said a list of disciplined players was not available.