Adrian Gonzalez headed to Red Sox

All-Star slugger Adrian Gonzalez was in Boston on Saturday to take a physical exam needed to complete a trade from the San Diego Padres to the Red Sox, two people familiar with the situation told the Associated Press.

Gonzalez had surgery to clean up the labrum in his non-throwing right shoulder Oct. 20. The Padres said then that the three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award-winning first baseman was expected to be ready for spring training.

Besides passing the physical, Gonzalez and the Red Sox will have to agree to a renegotiated contract because of the caliber of prospects Boston is giving up, one of the people familiar with the deal said. That person said the teams hope to wrap up the trade before the winter meetings start Monday.

The Padres, who have a long history of dumping star players for financial reasons, will receive three of Boston’s top prospects, plus a player to be determined in exchange for Gonzalez. The prospects are right-hander Casey Kelly, first baseman Anthony Rizzo and outfielder Reymond Fuentes.

Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees reached a preliminary agreement on a $51-million, three-year contract with an $8-million player option for 2014, a person familiar with the negotiations told the AP on Saturday.

Although negotiations moved slowly, there was little doubt that the Yankees captain and shortstop would remain in pinstripes. Jeter is coming off a $189-million, 10-year contract.

The St. Louis Cardinals and free agent Lance Berkman have agreed to an $8-million, one-year contract. The 34-year-old first baseman-outfielder is a five-time NL All-Star with the Astros and last year batted .248 with Houston and the Yankees, finishing with 14 homers and 58 RBIs.

FOOTBALL: NFL players told to save paychecks

NFL players might soon be socking away their next paycheck to get ready for a lockout that could cost them their entire salary in 2011.

The players’ union has advised its members to save their last three game checks this season in case next season is canceled. In a letter to the players that was viewed by the AP, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said the union’s “internal deadline” for agreeing to a new collective bargaining agreement has passed.

“It is important that you protect yourself and your family,” he wrote in the letter, which was dated Wednesday.

NFLPA spokesman George Atallah said in an e-mail to the AP that he would not comment because the letter was supposed to be internal.

Minnesota Vikings running backs coach Eric Bieniemy says he’s accepted an offer to return to Colorado to serve as the Buffaloes’ offensive coordinator.

SKIING: Austrian wins super-G

Georg Streitberger of Austria captured a World Cup super-G race at Beaver Creek, Colo., when Bode Miller and three other top Americans skied off the course.

Streitberger finished the demanding Birds of Prey run in 1 minute, 17.18 seconds, edging Adrien Theaux of France by 0.11 seconds. Didier Cuche of Switzerland was third.

Miller, who won silver in the super-G at the Vancouver Games, had trouble finding the right line near a technical turn midway through the run and veered straight off the course.

It was a common theme as Americans Andrew Weibrecht, Marco Sullivan and Ted Ligety also failed to make it through the difficult section of the hill.

Maria Riesch of Germany won her second World Cup downhill in as many days, followed again by American Lindsey Vonn at Lake Louise, Canada.

Vonn made a great recovery from a near crash at the top of the course. Dominique Gisin of Switzerland was third.

ETC.: Yang leads as Kerr bids for LPGA honor

Cristie Kerr is making a move to become the first American in 16 years to win U.S. LPGA player of the year, trailing leader Amy Yang by three strokes entering the final round of the LPGA Tour Championship at Orlando, Fla.

Kerr, the only player to shoot under par in all three rounds, could become the first American since Beth Daniel in 1994 to claim the LPGA’s most prestigious annual award. She needs nothing short of victory to unseat points leader Yani Tseng.

Top-ranked Lee Westwood shot a one-under-par 71 to lead by five strokes after the third round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City, South Africa.

France rallied from two sets down to defeat Serbia in doubles and take a 2-1 lead in the Davis Cup final. Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra overcame Nenad Zimonjic and Viktor Troicki and the hometown crowd in Belgrade Arena to win, 3-6, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 7-5, 6-4. France needs only one more victory to win a 10th Davis Cup, and first since 2001.

Louisville’s Aaron Horton scored in the 89th minute to give the host Cardinals a 5-4 victory over UCLA in the men’s soccer quarterfinals. Victor Chavez tied it for the Bruins (16-5-1) in the 82nd minute.

USC will go for its third consecutive men’s NCAA water polo title after defeating St. Francis, 10-7, at Berkeley. In Sunday’s final, the Trojans (27-2) will face host California, which defeated Loyola Marymount, 7-6.

Southern California race fans will have a final chance Sunday to say goodbye to Zenyatta, the 6-year-old mare who won 19 races in 20 starts, when Hollywood Park holds Zenyatta Appreciation Day.

Zenyatta will visit the saddling paddock after the sixth race, then will head to the track and parade in front of the grandstand and clubhouse area.

Zenyatta is scheduled to leave for Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky on Monday to begin her life as a broodmare.

—Eric Sondheimer