In brief: MLB’s winter meetings start heating up
The World Series champion New York Yankees pulled off the first big trade of this year’s session, reaching a tentative agreement Tuesday on a three-team, seven-player swap that would bring them All-Star center fielder Curtis Granderson from Detroit.
New York would trade right-hander Ian Kennedy to Arizona, and lefty reliever Phil Coke and outfield prospect Austin Jackson to Detroit, a baseball official said on condition of anonymity because the deal was not yet final.
Detroit would ship All-Star pitcher Edwin Jackson to the Diamondbacks, and Arizona would send young pitchers Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth to the Tigers. The teams were still working on technical aspects of the trade, including checking medical records.
Among this year’s free agents, the Washington Nationals surprised many by reaching a preliminary agreement on a $6 million, two-year contract with 38-year-old catcher Ivan Rodriguez.
St. Louis completed a $7.5 million, one-year deal with pitcher Brad Penny, who joins a rotation that includes Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright.
Bobcats snap Nuggets streak
Basketball: Gerald Wallace had 25 points and 16 rebounds and the Charlotte Bobcats frustrated Carmelo Anthony and Denver in a 107-95 victory in Charlotte, N.C., that snapped the Nuggets’ four-game winning streak.
Anthony had 34 points and seven rebounds, but Wallace outplayed him down the stretch.
•Conley lifts Grizzlies over Cavs: Mike Conley drove past Shaquille O’Neal for a layup with 3 seconds left to give the Grizzlies a 111-109 overtime victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Memphis, Tenn.
LeBron James, who had 43 points and 13 rebounds, took the last shot, but his 30-footer hit the front of the rim
•Fernandez out for spell: Portland’s Rudy Fernandez underwent a procedure to alleviate nerve pressure in his back that was causing leg pain, and he is expected to miss up to six weeks.
•Monroe leads No. 15 Georgetown: Greg Monroe had 24 points and 15 rebounds – both career highs – to lead No. 15 Georgetown to a 72-65 victory over No. 22 Butler in the Jimmy V Classic at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
•Lynx name new head coach: The WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx hired former Detroit assistant coach and general manager Cheryl Reeve as the team’s new head coach.
Erat leads Predators over Canucks
NHL: Martin Erat had his second career hat trick and added an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in Nashville, Tenn.
Patric Hornqvist had the other goals for the Predators. Ryan Kesler and Daniel Sedin scored for Vancouver.
Tebow captures Campbell Trophy
College football: He has won two national championships, a Heisman Trophy and 34 games as a starter for one of the nation’s elite programs. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow has one of the most distinguished resumes of any player in the modern era of college football. Now, it’s time to add another bullet point.
Tebow was named the recipient of the Walter V. Campbell Trophy, an award given to the athlete who best exhibits success in football, academics and service in the community.
•Kelly closes in on Notre Dame job: Brian Kelly didn’t interview Tuesday in New York to become Notre Dame’s next football coach, but Kelly already may have known enough about the job to take it.
Kelly had a meeting last week about the opening with representatives of Notre Dame before Cincinnati’s Big East championship game against Pittsburgh, the Chicago Tribune has learned.
Talks progressed well enough that the official announcement Kelly will be Charlie Weis’ replacement could come as early as Friday – any time after Cincinnati’s football banquet Thursday night.
•Louisville looks to get Strong: Louisville is expected to hire Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong as its new football coach, according to a person with knowledge of the decision.
Mother-in-law of Woods released
Miscellany: Tiger Woods’ mother-in-law collapsed at his home and was rushed to a hospital in Ocoee, Fla., touching off the second media frenzy in two weeks surrounding the pro golfer’s carefully guarded private life.
Barbro Holmberg was taken by ambulance to Health Central Hospital with stomach pains after a 911 call from Woods’ house. Holmberg, a Swedish politician, was released about 11 hours later and returned to Woods’ mansion, hospital spokesman Dan Yates said.