Newsmakers

Traded The Colorado Rockies acquired former Gonzaga University right-hander Clayton Mortensen from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for pitching prospect Ethan Hollingsworth. Mortensen, the 36th overall selection during the 2007 draft, made one start for the A’s last year.

Announced Two-time NHRA Nationals champion Ashley Force Hood will not race in the upcoming season after announcing she and husband, Dan, are expecting their first child.

Suspended The New York Islanders suspended goalie Evgeni Nabokov for not reporting to the team after being claimed off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings last week. Nabokov has been disappointed that he won’t be joining the Stanley Cup- contending Red Wings. Instead he is now under contract with the Islanders, who are far out of the playoff race.

Hired The Oakland Raiders officially hired longtime NFL assistant Al Saunders as their offensive coordinator. The Raiders updated their coaching roster on their website. The only newcomer on the list is Saunders, although there are still many other openings to fill, including defensive coordinator.

Agreed Pitcher Wandy Rodriguez and the Houston Astros avoided arbitration and reached agreement on a $34 million, three-year deal. Rodriguez, 32, was 11-12 with a 3.60 ERA last season.

Honored The U.S. Olympic Committee’s sportswoman and sportsman of the year for 2010 are Lindsey Vonn and Evan Lysacek. Vonn became the first American woman to win Olympic gold in the downhill. Lysacek defeated reigning Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko to win gold at the Vancouver Games.

Fired One of British soccer’s leading television commentators was fired, a day after being taken off the air and temporarily suspended for making sexist remarks about a female match official. Andy Gray, the face of Sky Sports’ soccer coverage for the past 20 years, was dismissed by the broadcaster after “new evidence of unacceptable and offensive behavior” that took place off-air last month.