Newsmakers

Fired Southern California has fired baseball coach Frank Cruz for violating NCAA rules regarding limits on practice time and organized team activities. Associate head coach Dan Hubbs, a former Trojans pitcher in his second season as a coach with USC, has been promoted to head coach.

Agreed After coaching the Minnesota Vikings to a surprising playoff berth last season, Leslie Frazier has reached an agreement on a contract through 2014.

Hired The Seattle Seahawks have hired Travis Jones as their new defensive line coach and Nick Sorensen as coaching assistant/special teams coach. Seattle also announced that Dave Canales will be the assistant quarterbacks/offensive quality control coach, Nate Carroll is an offensive assistant and Marquand Manuel is a defensive assistant.

• The Columbus Blue Jackets have made history by hiring Jarmo Kekalainen of Finland as the first European to become a general manager in the National Hockey League.

• The Philadelphia Eagles have hired Tom Gamble to be vice president of player personnel. Gamble spent the previous eight seasons with the defending NFC-champion San Francisco 49ers, including the last two as director of player personnel.

Signed The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed infielder Brandon Inge. Inge, who played catcher, infield and outfield for the Detroit Tigers, agreed to a minor league contract and received in invitation to spring training.

• The Seattle Seahawks signed former Green Bay and New York Giants cornerback/kick returner Will Blackmon.

• Daisuke Matsuzaka has officially joined the revitalized Cleveland Indians. The Japanese right-hander, limited to just 18 starts the past two seasons because of elbow issues, signed a minor league contract.

Appealed Baseball slugger Barry Bonds is asking a federal court to toss out his felony obstruction conviction. His lawyers and federal prosecutors are scheduled to argue the issue today before a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal in San Francisco.