Carlos Gonzalez and the Rockies agree on deal

Carlos Gonzalez and the Colorado Rockies have agreed to an $80-million, seven-year contract, pending a physical.

Even before the agreement was reached, Fabiola Bohorquez, a publicist for the outfielder, confirmed from Venezuela that the deal was imminent. Gonzalez will soon fly to Denver to sign the contract, she said.

A person familiar with the deal, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made, said Monday evening that terms had been agreed upon. The Rockies wouldn’t confirm the deal, which was first reported by the Denver Post.

Gonzalez had a breakout season in 2010, winning a Silver Slugger award and a Gold Glove. The 25-year-old won the National League batting title with a .336 average and also hit 34 home runs and drove in 117 runs despite batting leadoff for 44 games early in the year.

Pitcher Tim Redding agreed to a minor league contract with the Dodgers.

The right-hander, who turns 33 next month, spent last season in the minor leagues with Colorado and the New York Yankees. He was released in August to pitch in South Korea.

Redding has pitched for five major league teams, most recently with the New York Mets in 2009. He won 10 games with Houston in 2003 and with Washington in 2008.

He has a career record of 37-57 with a 4.95 earned-run average.

Baltimore Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon surrendered to police in the Dominican Republic to face an involuntary manslaughter charge in a shooting New Year’s Eve.

His lawyer said he was firing celebratory shots in the air.

The Dominican pitcher is suspected of killing 25-year-old Michel Castillo Almonte and wounding his 17-year-old brother in the northeast coastal town of Luperon. The dead man is Simon’s cousin, according to the player’s lawyer.

Three weeks after losing Cliff Lee in free agency, the Texas Rangers finalized a $3-million, one-year deal with 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb, who hasn’t pitched since the 2009 season opener because of shoulder surgery. Texas also completed a $3.9-million, one-year contract with 41-year-old reliever Arthur Rhodes.

ETC.

Sidney is back after suspension

Renardo Sidney is staying. Elgin Bailey is going.

That’s the aftermath of a nationally televised brawl between two Mississippi State basketball players in the stands of a tournament in Honolulu on Dec. 23. The fight embarrassed the program and caused both players to be suspended indefinitely.

Both players were reinstated, according to a school release Monday. But although Sidney remains with the program, Bailey has “asked to be released from the team in order to transfer.”

Mark Visentin made 22 saves and Canada beat the United States, 4-1, in a semifinal of the World Junior Hockey Championships at Buffalo, N.Y.

Curtis Hamilton, Quinton Howden, Ryan Johansen and Zack Kassian scored for Canada, which plays Russia on Wednesday in the tournament’s gold-medal game. Russia beat Sweden, 4-3, in a shootout earlier MondayDenis Golubev .

The U.S. will face Sweden for the bronze, seeking its first medal on home ice.