CLEVELAND — Kerry Wood completed a $20.5 million, two-year contract with the Cleveland Indians on Saturday with an option for 2011 that could become guaranteed.

Wood saved 34 games in 2008, his first season as the Chicago Cubs' closer. He reached a preliminary agreement with the Indians during the winter meetings in Las Vegas. Wood, who has a long history of arm and elbow problems, had to pass a physical before the Indians would go forward.

Wood gets $10 million next year and $10.5 million in 2010. The Indians' $11 million option kicks in if the free agent has 55 games finished in either of the next two years.

AUBURN, Ala. — Gene Chizik will be formally introduced Monday as Auburn's football coach, replacing departed Tommy Tuberville.The former Tigers defensive coordinator needs to assemble a staff and salvage recruiting following Tuberville's resignation. He also faces some skepticism among fans, in part because his Iowa State team lost its final 10 games this season, leaving his record there at 5-19 in two seasons.When Chizik was defensive coordinator at Auburn in 2004, the Tigers went 13-0 and the next year he went to Texas. With him as defensive coordinator, the Longhorns also went 13-0 and won the national championship.

VENICE, Italy — Lance Armstrong's first Giro d'Italia will begin with a team trial in Venice and finish with an individual race against the clock alongside Rome's ancient ruins.Organizers unveiled a highlight-filled route for the 100th anniversary edition of the race Saturday inside Venice's opera house, La Fenice.Armstrong, a specialist at time trials, returns to cycling in 2009 after three years in retirement. The seven-time Tour de France winner is planning to race both the Giro and Tour de France for the first time in his career.

MANNHEIM, Germany — Wladimir Klitschko defended his IBF heavyweight crown by stopping Hasim Rahman in the seventh round at SAP Arena on Saturday.Klitschko hit the shorter, older and heavier Rahman at will throughout, and after landing a left-right-left combination against the cornered American, referee Tony Weeks stepped in to end the contest 44 seconds into the round.Klitschko had knocked down Rahman in the previous round with successive left hooks.