Newsmakers

Traded The longest-tenured athlete in Philadelphia was traded when the Phillies sent shortstop Jimmy Rollins to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. Details of the trade – which could involve a third team – were still being finalized, said a source familiar with the talks. Rollins, who earned full no-trade rights by spending 10 seasons in the majors and five with the same team, approved the trade.

• The Los Angeles Dodgers traded All-Star second baseman Dee Gordon and starting pitcher Dan Haren to the Miami Marlins in exchange for four players. The Dodgers will receive pitching prospect Andrew Heaney, reliever Chris Hatcher, utilityman Enrique Hernandez, and minor league catcher Austin Barnes, according to multiple reports

Declared Wisconsin running back and Heisman Trophy finalist Melvin Gordon made it official, skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft. Gordon has run for a Big Ten-record 2,336 yards this season.

• Virginia defensive end Eli Harold said he is making himself available for the NFL draft and forgoing his final year of college eligibility.

Hired Former English Premier League manager Owen Coyle was hired as head coach of Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo. The 48-year-oldsucceeds Dominic Kinnear.

Signed People familiar with the negotiations say the Houston Astros bolstered their bullpen by agreeing to an $18.5 million, three-year contract with Luke Gregerson and a $12.5 million, two-year deal with Pat Neshek. Gregerson, 30, spent five years with San Diego. Neshek, 34, pitched for St. Louis and was picked for his first All-Star game last season.

• Closer David Robertson and the Chicago White Sox finalized a $46 million, four-year contract.

Accused The head of the Russian athletics federation said he stepped down from his role as International Association of Athletics Federations treasurer while accusations of systematic doping by Russian athletes are investigated. Valentin Balakhnichev said he and his federation had been subjected to “brutal persecution” following allegations in a German TV documentary that doping in Russia was commonplace and test results routinely falsified.

Unchanged NASCAR chairman Brian France said there would be no changes to the championship format in 2015. The decision is based on how well- received the Sprint Cup Series season finale race was and the TV ratings boost during the Chase.