Sports briefs
Pitt gets QB transfer
Pitt head football coach Pat Narduzzi announced the addition of transfer quarterback Joey Yellen, who played this fall at Arizona State.
Yellen has already enrolled at Pitt and will participate in spring drills.
As a freshman for the Sun Devils, Yellen played in one contest, preserving a redshirt. It is anticipated that, per NCAA transfer guidelines, he will sit out the 2020 season and be eligible in 2021 as a redshirt sophomore.
“Joey’s recruitment happened incredibly fast,” Narduzzi said. “(Offensive coordinator) Mark Whipple made contact with him immediately after he went into the portal in mid-December. Joey wanted to be enrolled for the upcoming semester so we basically did an unofficial visit over FaceTime since it was a dead period. Even in that tight window, everyone did their homework. I know Joey is excited to be at Pitt and we’re thrilled to get a great person and quarterback.”
Wild Things add infielder
The Wild Things continue with their roster building as they signed infielder Nick DeTringo, who helped the University of Tampa to the NCAA Division II championship last year.
DeTringo’s .321 career batting average ranked as one of the best in Tampa’s history. He also hit 18 career home runs.
A native of Ruskin, Fla., DeTringo signed with the Ottawa Champions of the Can-Am League last summer and played in 42 games.
“Over the holiday break we were contacted by a scout in Florida regarding Nick and his availability. We always hold winners from winning programs in high regard,” Wild Things general manager Tony Buccilli said. “There were flashes during his campaign with Ottawa and he will be another valuable asset to assist in the transition to our new division. Nick seems to be a rookie able to add a physical style of offense while maintaining a high level across the infield.”
In the NHL
Nashville has fired Peter Laviolette after he coached the Predators into the playoffs in each of the previous five seasons.
The Predators also dismissed assistant coach Kevin McCarthy on Monday.
Nashville has dropped four of five heading into tonight’s game against the Boston Bruins. The team did not announce a replacement for Laviolette.
The 55-year-old Laviolette went 248-143-60 in 5 1/2 seasons with Nashville. The Predators lost to Pittsburgh in the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, made it to the second round in 2018 and were eliminated in the first round a year ago.
- Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal and an assist, and the Winnipeg Jets beat Ilya Kovalchuk and the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Monday night.
Andrew Copp and Josh Morrissey also scored for Winnipeg, which had dropped five of six. Captain Blake Wheeler had two assists, and Connor Hellebuyck made 29 saves.
- Semyon Varlamov stopped 32 shots against his former team for his second shutout of the season, Anders Lee scored and the New York Islanders beat the Colorado Avalanche 1-0.
In the NBA
Joel Embiid scored 18 points playing with a dislocated left ring finger, Ben Simmons had 17 points and 15 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers snapped a four-game losing streak, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder, 120-113.
In the majors
Outfielder Shogo Akiyama agreed to a $21 million, three-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds, the only major league team that hasn’t had a player born in Japan.
Akiyama, 31, became a free agent after his ninth season with the Seibu Lions in Japan’s Pacific League, where he was a five-time All-Star. The center fielder could move to one of the corner spots in Cincinnati’s unsettled outfield.
Akiyama gets $6 million this year, $7 million in 2021 and $8 million in 2022.
- Reliever Daniel Hudson agreed to terms on an $11 million, two-year contract to return to the Washington Nationals, and the World Series champions also added first baseman Eric Thames.
Thames, who gets a one-year contract guaranteeing $4 million, moves into the lefty-hitting first baseman role filled by Matt Adams last season.