Sports in brief

BASEBALLHarden returning to Oakland

Righthander Rich Harden has agreed to terms on a one-year contract to rejoin the Oakland Athletics. A person with knowledge of the deal confirmed it to The Associated Press. Harden must take a physical - and he has had his share of injury problems - before a formal announcement is made. The A's may announce the deal by the end of the week. Harden went 5-5 with a 5.58 ERA in 20 appearances and 18 starts last season for the AL champion Texas Rangers. But he was designated for assignment after the regular season to give him his unconditional release after he struggled with injuries and control.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are close to signing reliever Matt Guerrier, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. Guerrier must still take a physical Thursday, when the Dodgers could announce the three-year deal. The 32-year-old right-hander has spent his entire career with the Minnesota Twins. He had a 3.17 ERA in 74 games last season. Guerrier was even better in 2009, with a 2.36 ERA in 79 games, which led the American League . . . Lefthanded reliever Randy Choate has agreed to a two-year, $2.5-million contract with the Florida Marlins. Choate appeared in 85 games and went 4-3 with a 4.23 ERA for Tampa Bay this season.

NHL

Thrashers stage a stunt to boost attendance

The attendance-challenged Atlanta Thrashers are getting desperate to sell tickets. The team staged a fake police chase with its mascot in an attempt to pique interest in the surging team, which has won 10 of 12 games but still ranks 28th in the NHL in fan support. "Thrash" was picked up by officers in suburban Gwinnett County after he supposedly stole a Zamboni from the team's training complex and took off down a busy highway. The team says Thrash will be released from custody as soon as 5,000 additional tickets are sold for the remaining five home games in December.

COLLEGE BASKETBALLNo. 2 Ohio State cruises

Jon Diebler matched an Ohio State record with nine three-pointers, scoring a career-high 29 points while leading the second-ranked Buckeyes past Florida Gulf Coast, 83-55, at Columbus. Diebler, who has made a school-best 291 shots behind the arc, shot 9-for-14 on 3s.

COLLEGE FOOTBALLWest Virginia hires Holgorsen

Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen has been hired for the same position at West Virginia next season, and the Mountaineers will make him coach in 2012. He will replace coach Bill Stewart for the 2012 season. - AP