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Free-agent right-hander Ben Sheets spent Wednesday night visiting with the Rangers in Arlington, Tex.

Watch one of the state's best point guards in action against previously undefeated Belleville. Ray McCallum shows he can drive to the basket, shoot it, pass it and be a true Division 1 point guard.

By JEFF WILSON ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers’ pursuit of free-agent pitcher Ben Sheets has become serious enough that owner Tom Hicks is now involved.Hicks, sons Tom Jr. and Alex, and team president Nolan Ryan were among a group of Rangers personnel who dined Wednesday in Dallas with Sheets and agent Casey Close.It was the Rangers’ second face-to-face meeting with Sheets this off-season, and the first since the slower-than-normal free-agent market has taken shape.The Rangers are trying to find a financial middle ground between the risk and reward of signing a player who has been on the disabled list five times in four years but was the starting pitcher for the National League in the All-Star Game last year.It could be a busy weekend for Hicks, Ryan and general manager Jon Daniels, and an agreement could be reached by early next week. The right deal would be no longer than two years and worth no more than $16 million guaranteed, but it could escalate based on perform

The Phillies want Moises Alou to switch sides in their rivalry with the Mets. Philadelphia has expressed interest in signing the 42-year-old free agent, according to a source.

Center Bryan Smolinski, who logged his 1,056th career game for Montreal in 2007-08, remains a free agent and the 36-year-old forward continues to wait at home in Birmingham, Mich., for a NHL team to come calling.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. ? Dirk Nowitzki scored 26 points, Josh Howard added 22 and the Dallas Mavericks rebounded from their worst performance of the season to rout the Detroit Pistons 112-91 on Friday night.The Mavericks were coming off a 133-99 loss in Milwaukee on Wednesday night.Brandon Bass added a season-high 18 points, and Jason Kidd had 11 points and 10 assists for Dallas.Richard Hamilton, coming off the bench for just the second time in his Detroit career, led the Pistons with 17 points, and Tayshaun Prince added 12 ? 10 from the free-throw line.Dallas shot 66 percent in the first half, building a 63-51 lead. Howard, Nowitzki and Terry combined for 43 points in the half.Things didn?t get any better for Detroit in the second half, as the Mavericks led by 18 at the end of the third and by 25 in the fourth.Notes: The Mavericks will go for the first season sweep by either team when they face the Pistons in Dallas on March 17. ... The Mavericks only scored 67 points in their last visit

1B Prince Fielder and the Milwaukee Brewers completed an $18 million, two-year contract on Friday, a deal that avoided salary arbitration. 'It's just as important he doesn't have to worry about arbitration from his standpoint,' general manager Doug Melvin said. 'It can be a distraction every year.' The 24-year-old Fielder receives a $1 million signing bonus and salaries of $6.5 million this year and $10.5 million in 2010. Fielder can make a $250,000 performance bonus each year if he has 500 or more plate appearances. He would be eligible for arbitration again in 2011 and could become a free agent after the 2011 season.

Nats keep eye on free-agent market

Manny Ramirez may not be on the Mets' list of possible free agent signings, team COO Jeff Wilpon told Bloomberg News.

The Mets today announced they have signed free agent right-handed pitcher Freddy Garcia to a one-year minor-league contract. 'He's a big-game pitcher who has had great success in the postseason and we feel has a good opportunity to contribute to...