Bucs decline option on pitcher LizPITTSBURGH — The Pirates declined a $2.25 million club option on pitcher Radhames Liz on Thursday, who gets a $250,000 buyout.Liz’s contract specified if the team declined the option, he would be released.The 32-year-old right-hander went 1-4 with a 4.24 ERA in 14 games as a reliever for Pittsburgh in 2015, his first season in the majors since appearing in two games for Baltimore in 2009.

Lions fire GM, team presidentALLEN PARK, Mich. — The one-win Detroit Lions, looking nothing like the team that reached the playoffs last season, fired team president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew and promised to bring in new leadership to put a consistent winner on the field.“We are very disappointed with the results of the season so far and believe a change in leadership was necessary,” said owner Martha Firestone Ford, reading from a prepared statement. She did not take questions.The Lions are an NFC-worst 1-7 under second-year coach Jim Caldwell, whose staff was not affected by the changes a week after he replaced some assistants, including offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi.

Rape investigation against Kane droppedBUFFALO, N.Y. — Prosecutors dropped a rape investigation against Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane, citing a lack of credible evidence in a case “rife with reasonable doubt” and said the accuser no longer wanted to cooperate.Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita said a three-month investigation found that physical and forensic evidence “tend to contradict” the accuser's claim that she was raped last Aug. 2 at Kane's offseason home outside Buffalo.

Kenseth appeal rejected by officerCHARLOTTE, N.C. — A final appeals officer rejected an appeal by Matt Kenseth after he challenged his two-race suspension by NASCAR for intentionally wrecking Joey Logano over the weekend during the race at Martinsville.