football
Panthers re-sign Jansen, Phillips
• The Carolina Panthers signed long snapper J.J. Jansen to a four-year contract extension and linebacker Jason Phillips to a one-year extension. Jansen has had only one bad snap in three seasons with Carolina. Phillips played in four games last season for Carolina and notched three tackles before being placed on injured reserve with a calf injury.
• The Arizona Cardinals moved Mike McNulty to quarterbacks coach and hired longtime NFL quarterback Frank Reich to coach wide receivers. McNulty replaces Chris Miller, who was fired after last season.
• The Chicago Bears hired Tim Holt as their offensive line coach. Holt takes over for Mike Tice, who was promoted to offensive coordinator after the departure of Mike Martz.
• The Indianapolis Colts promoted Tom Telesco to vice president of football operations. Telesco has spent the past six seasons as the Colts’ director of player personnel.
• Former offensive coordinator Al Saunders will remain on the Oakland Raiders’ coaching staff as a senior offensive assistant. Saunders was offensive coordinator under Hue Jackson last season.
hockey
Wings, Leafs set for Winter Classic
• A source familiar with the NHL’s plan says the Detroit Red Wings will play the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 Winter Classic. Earlier Wednesday, the University of Michigan Board of Regents authorized the athletics department to seek a contract with the NHL that would allow the league to hold next year’s showcase at Michigan Stadium. The NHL has offered to pay up to $3 million for a license to use the iconic college football stadium, according to the recommendation approved by the board.
• The Columbus Blue Jackets signed left wing Vinny Prospal to a one-year contract extension through next season. The 36-year-old Prospal signed with the Blue Jackets in July and has nine goals and 24 assists in 53 games with Columbus.
• The Calgary Flames re-signed defenseman Derek Smith to a $1.55 million, two-year contract. Smith is currently sidelined with a high ankle sprain. He has two goals and eight assists in 32 games this season.
BASEBALL
Cincinnati acquires Ludwick, Francis
• The Cincinnati Reds made a couple of moves to improve their depth, signing outfielder Ryan Ludwick to a one-year contract and left-handed starter Jeff Francis to a minor-league deal. Ludwick, 33, batted .237 last season in 139 games with the Padres and Pirates, hitting 13 homers with 75 RBI. Ludwick also has played for the Rangers, Indians and Cardinals. Francis, 31, has struggled since he missed the 2009 season because of shoulder surgery. Last season, he was 6-16 for Kansas City with a 4.82 ERA in 31 starts. The Reds also designated right-handed reliever Carlos Fisher for assignment to the minors.
• Shortstop Elvis Andrus and the Texas Rangers have finalized a $14.4 million, three-year contract. The 23-year-old hit a career-best .279 with 37 stolen bases last year, when the Rangers won their second consecutive American League pennant.
• Shortstop Jed Lowrie and the Houston Astros agreed to a $1.15 million, one-year contract. Lowrie, a switch-hitter, batted .252 with six homers and 36 RBI in 88 games for the Red Sox last season. He was obtained in a trade.
• Emilio Bonifacio became the second player to defeat the Miami Marlins in salary arbitration this year when he was awarded a $2.2 million salary by a three-person panel rather than the Marlins’ offer of $1.95 million. Bonifacio hit a team-high .296 last year with five homers, seven triples, 36 RBI and 40 steals in 51 tries.
• Russell Branyan, 36, agreed to a minor-league contract with the New York Yankees and will try to win a bench job as a corner infielder during spring training. Branyan hit .197 with five homers and 14 RBI in 127 at-bats last season for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Angels, playing first base, third base and designated hitter.
• Right-hander Brad Bergesen and the Baltimore Orioles argued their cases in salary arbitration. Bergesen asked for a raise from $434,000 to $1.2 million and the Orioles argued he should be paid $800,000.
other
Fabio Capello quits as England’s coach
• Fabio Capello quit suddenly as England coach in a dispute over captain John Terry, throwing the national team’s preparations for the European Championship into turmoil. The Italian, whose contract was to expire after Euro 2012, resigned during an hour-long meeting with Football Association executives at Wembley Stadium after four years in the job. The drama unfolded hours after Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, who has long been considered Capello’s likely successor, was cleared by a British jury of tax evasion.
• Maria Sharapova beat Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa 6-3, 6-1 to reach the quarterfinals of the Open GDF Suez in Paris.
— From wire reports
