Kevin Youkilis, Yankees agree on contract

Kevin Youkilis and the New York Yankees reached a deal Tuesday, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press, returning the hard-nosed All-Star to the American League East and filling the Yankees’ immediate need for a third baseman.

The one-year contract for $12 million is pending a physical. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement.

Youkilis is expected to play third base while Alex Rodriguez recovers from hip surgery. Rodriguez plans to have the surgery in mid-January and could be sidelined until the All-Star break or beyond.

The Cleveland Indians traded outfielder Shin-Soo Choo to the Cincinnati Reds and acquired pitcher Trevor Bauer from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-team deal involving nine players.

Center fielder Drew Stubbs was sent from Cincinnati to Cleveland as part of the trade announced Tuesday night.

In addition to Stubbs, the Indians received Bauer, who was the No. 3 pick in the 2011 draft, and right-handers Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw from the Diamondbacks.

Cleveland shipped Choo, infielder-outfielder Jason Donald and cash to the Reds, while sending left-handed reliever Tony Sipp and first baseman Lars Anderson to Arizona.

Gary DiSarcina has left the Angels organization to manage the Boston Red Sox’s triple-A team at Pawtucket, R.I. DiSarcina, a former shortstop for the team, had been recently promoted to special assistant to Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto.

—Mike DiGiovanna

ETC.

NHL labor talks to resume today

NHL labor negotiations will resume Wednesday, with mediators rejoining the talks at an undisclosed location in an effort to save the hockey season.

The Canadian Press on Tuesday reported the restart of bargaining between the league and union, citing unidentified people on both sides of the lockout.

U.S. federal mediators Scot Beckenbaugh and John Sweeney are to return to the process. They took part in sessions Nov. 27 and 28 before deciding they couldn’t help.

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The Dallas Cowboys paid tribute to Jerry Brown at a private memorial that included Josh Brent, the player charged with intoxication manslaughter in the one-car accident that killed his teammate.

Quarterback Tony Romo, owner Jerry Jones and other players, executives and staff membersattended the service on a sunny but chilly afternoon at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers suspended running back Rashard Mendenhall for conduct detrimental to the team.

Mendenhall has been inactive for the last two games after fumbling in a 20-14 loss to Cleveland on Nov. 25. He was third on the depth chart behind Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman when the team released its updated chart on Tuesday.

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The New England Patriots put receiver Donte’ Stallworth on injured reserve because of an ankle injury.

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The move ended his season after only one game, a 42-14 win over the Houston Texans on Monday night in which he scored on his only reception, a 63-yarder from Tom Brady.

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Chicago kicker Robbie Gould will sit out the rest of the season after injuring his left calf, another blow to the stumbling Bears with a big NFC North showdown coming up Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

The Bears put Gould on injured reserve and signed veteran kicker Olindo Mare to a one-year contract.

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Rafael Nadal is ready to return to tennis, confirming that he’ll play in an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, at the end of the month following a six-month break to recover from a knee injury.

The tournament starts Dec. 27 and will feature a six-man field that includes top-ranked Novak Djokovic.