Newsmakers

Hired

Former Montana and Idaho assistant Jonathan Smith has been hired as the quarterbacks coach at Boise State. The former Oregon State quarterback was the Grizzlies’ offensive coordinator the past two seasons after spending six seasons as Idaho’s quarterbacks coach.

Agreed A person with knowledge of the agreement told the Associated Press that slugger Carlos Pena has agreed to a $7.25 million, one-year contract to return to the Tampa Bay Rays. Pena played with the Rays from 2007-10, helping them reach the playoffs twice.

• Outfielder Brett Gardner and the New York Yankees agreed to a $2.8 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration.

• Outfielder Michael Morse agreed to a two-year contract, worth about $10.5 million, with the Washington Nationals, avoiding arbitration.

• Free-agent closer Ryan Madson and the Cincinnati Reds finalized their $8.5 million, one-year contract.

• Right-handed relief pitcher Sergio Romo and the San Francisco Giants settled on a $1,575,000, one-year contract to avoid an arbitration hearing.

Signed The Pittsburgh Steelers signed 2006 Heisman Trophy quarterback Troy Smith to a reserve/futures contract. Smith spent three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens from 2007-09, beating the Steelers as a rookie starter in 2007.

Voted Soccer player Abby Wambach has been voted the U.S. Soccer Federation’s female athlete of the year for the fifth time, matching Mia Hamm’s record. Clint Dempsey has been voted top male athlete for the first time since 2007. The USSF also said Friday that Brek Shea and Sydney Leroux were the top young athletes.

Sidelined North Carolina junior Dexter Strickland will miss the rest of the season after tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament in Thursday’s win at Virginia Tech.

Fined Winnipeg Jets forward Nik Antropov was fined $2,500 by the NHL for boarding Buffalo defenseman T.J. Brennan on Thursday night.

Acquired The Cleveland Indians acquired right- hander Kevin Slowey from Colorado for reliever Zach Putnam and cash.

Assigned Coach Claude Julien and his Boston Bruins staff have been assigned coaching duties for Zdeno Chara’s team at the National Hockey League All-Star game Jan. 29 in Ottawa. Julien will be joined by Bruins assistants Doug Houda, Doug Jarvis and Geoff Ward. The NHL also announced that John Tortorella of the New York Rangers and Todd McLellan of the San Jose Sharks will guide the team led by Daniel Alfredsson.