*BASEBALL: According to sources, ESPN.com reported Braves pitcher John Smoltz is on the verge of signing a one-year deal with the Red Sox worth $5.5 million in base salary and $5 million in incentives. … Jason Giambi and the Athletics finalized a $5.25 million, one-year contract. Giambi turns 38 on Thursday. … Jerry Hairston Jr. stayed with the Reds, agreeing to a $2 million, one-year contract. … The agent for Trevor Hoffman said Hoffman will let the Dodgers know Thursday if he will be their closer this year. … The Newark Bears named Tim Raines, 49, their manager.
*HOCKEY: Ottawa’s Jarkko Ruutu was suspended two games by the NHL for biting the Sabres’ Andrew Peters in Tuesday’s game. Ruutu, who will lose $37,707 in pay, will miss Thursday’s game at Boston and Saturday’s game against the Rangers. … The Maple Leafs acquired hard-hitting forward Brad May from the Ducks for a conditional 2010 sixth-round draft pick. … Joe Sakic, already sidelined after a snowblower accident last month, underwent surgery for a herniated disc and will need 10 weeks to recover. … Red Wings defensemen Nicklas Lidstrom was selected for his 10th consecutive All-Star Game (Western Conference roster appears in Scoreboard). … The Wolves went 0-for-5 on power plays and lost 5-3 to San Antonio at Allstate Arena. … Wolves winger Joe Motsko was named to the AHL All-Star team.
*COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno are leaving school to enter the NFL draft. So is Maryland wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey. … Jacksonville Jaguars defensive assistant Tom Williams, 39, was named the head coach at Yale, making him the first African-American to hold the job. … Quarterback Matt Simms, son of former NFL star Phil Simms, will transfer from Louisville. … Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo was given an extension. … Former Baylor and Kentucky coach Guy Morriss was hired to coach Div. II Texas A&M-Commerce.
*NBA: The Thunder acquired guard Chucky Atkins and a first-round draft pick from the Nuggets for 7-footer Johan Petro and a second-round pick. … The Heat traded guard Shaun Livingston and cash to the Grizzlies for a second-round pick in 2012. Memphis waived forward Darius Miles. … Lamar Odom’s right knee injury is not serious and the Lakers forward is day-to-day.
*TENNIS: Top-ranked Rafael Nadal, No. 2 Roger Federer, Andy Roddick and Andy Murray advanced to the Qatar Open quarterfinals. … Top-seeded Ana Ivanovic fought off two match points and beat Italy’s Roberta Vinci in the Brisbane International. … Before rain washed out the Chennai Open, top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko pulled out of his match against Lukas Dlouhy because of pain in his left heel. Davydenko said he’ll miss the Australian Open. … James Blake’s bid for a third Hopman Cup title ended when he and Meghann Shaughnessy lost the mixed-doubles match to Germany.
*WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: The Sky signed guard Erin Thorn to a two-year contract. She was a six-year WNBA veteran with New York.
Shannon Ryan … The Storm re-signed guard Tanisha Wright. … Emily Cournoyer had 19 points and 11 rebounds as Providence upset No. 19 Pittsburgh 77-69.
*ALSO: IndyCar driver Ryan Briscoe and ESPN host Nicole Manske are engaged. … Home Depot, which offered jobs and benefits to American Olympians, has decided not to renew its Olympic sponsorship. … The Xerox Classic is off the Nationwide Tour schedule after the corporate sponsor decided not to sign a new deal. … Vijay Singh will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after the Mercedes Championship and hopes to return for the Feb. 12 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. … Former Giants receiver Mark Ingram appeared in a Long Island federal court after disappearing Dec. 5, the day he was to report to a Kentucky prison for bank fraud. … Two felony charges against Vikings great Carl Eller, 66, are being dropped. A judge will rule on two lesser charges stemming from his clash with police last April.
