LOS ANGELES — Jeff Kent plans to announce his retirement from baseball on Thursday at Dodger Stadium.

Kent spent 17 years in the major leagues and leaves as the career home-run leader among second basemen with 351, 74 more than Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg.

He spent the last four seasons with the Dodgers, hitting .291 with 122 doubles, 75 homers and 311 RBIs. Los Angeles issued a statement announcing the news conference.

A five-time All-Star and the 2000 NL MVP, Kent had a .290 career batting average, 377 homers, 1,518 RBIs and a .500 slugging percentage. He was drafted by Toronto in 1989 and also played for the New York Mets, Cleveland, San Francisco and Houston.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Omar Vizquel is going to spring training with the Texas Rangers, who want him to mentor 20-year-old shortstop Elvis Andrus.An 11-time Gold Glove winner, the 41-year-old Vizquel agreed to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to spring training.Vizquel might become a utility infielder for the Rangers, but his biggest contribution could be helping in the development of Andrus. Texas is moving five-time All-Star shortstop Michael Young, a Gold Glove winner last season, to third base to make room for Andrus, who has never played above Double-A.

CLEVELAND— Hall of Famer Dante "Gluefingers" Lavelli, a sure-handed receiver who helped the Cleveland Browns build a dynasty in the 1940s and 50s, has died. He was 85.Fairview Hospital spokeswoman Denise Smith said Lavelli died Tuesday night. He had been hospitalized with congestive heart failure and had been treated for bladder and kidney infections.