New York Yankees, Jacoby Ellsbury agree to contract

Free-agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about

$153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night.

Ellsbury is the second major free-agent addition in the Yankees’ off-season rebuilding. He was to take a physical in New York on Wednesday, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no statements were authorized.

Earlier Tuesday, New York finalized an $85-million, five-year contract with All-Star catcher Brian McCann.

Ellsbury, who turned 30 in September, led the majors with 52 stolen bases despite being hobbled late in the season by a broken right foot. The lefty-hitting leadoff man batted .298 with nine home runs and 53 runs batted in.

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The Major League Baseball Players Assn. selected its new leader, then braced for a debate about whether to embrace tougher penalties for players in violation of baseball’s drug policy.

As expected, the MLBPA executive board picked Tony Clark to replace the late Michael Weiner as executive director. Clark, 41, has served as interim executive director since Weiner died Nov. 21 after a 15-month fight with brain cancer.

As the MLBPA meetings continue this week, the headline issue for the union is whether to tighten penalties for users of performance-enhancing drugs.

“We will have a discussion,” Clark said. “The players will decide what direction we will go and do it in such a way to protect their interests and advance the game.”

Clark, a first baseman who had a 15-year career, becomes the first former major league player to head the players’ union. He has worked for the MLBPA since his retirement as a player in 2010.

—Bill Shaikin

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In one whirlwind stretch of less than 24 hours, Billy Beane pulled off a trio of trades with three clubs — and the Oakland general manager believes his bullpen will be all the better for it heading into 2014.

First, the Athletics acquired American League saves leader Jim Johnson from Baltimore late Monday as the replacement for All-Star closer Grant Balfour. Then on Tuesday, the two-time defending AL West champions traded for San Diego right-handed reliever Luke Gregerson in a swap that sent outfielder Seth Smith to the Padres.

That move became a viable option after outfielder Craig Gentry was acquired from Texas with outfielder Michael Choice going to the Rangers. Oakland also is waiting on lefty Scott Kazmir’s physical to finalize a $22-million, two-year contract.

Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia is going from the World Series champion Red Sox to a team that lost 100 games.

Saltalamacchia agreed to a $21-million, three-year deal with the Miami Marlins, two people familiar with the negotiations said. The people confirmed the agreement to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been finalized.

ETC.

QB Mariota says he’ll stay at Oregon

Quarterback Marcus Mariota announced that he will return to Oregon for his junior season.

There had been speculation that Mariota might make himself available for the NFL draft. Following Oregon’s 36-35 victory over Oregon State in the Civil War on Friday, he said he hadn’t yet made a decision.

But on Tuesday the school announced on its website that Mariota would stay, along with junior Hroniss Grasu, a three-year starter at center.

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The disappointing Brooklyn Nets have shaken up their coaching staff, reassigning top assistant Lawrence Frank to a non-bench role.

Coach Jason Kidd said that Frank will not be at practices or games, and that he will be writing daily reports. He said the two had “different philosophies.”

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The New Orleans Pelicans said forward Anthony Davis is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks because of his broken left hand.

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Lindsey Vonn was cleared to get back on a World Cup course for downhill training in Canada, the latest step as she works to return from a right knee injury and get ready for the Sochi Olympics.

Now Vonn — and the rest of the skiing world — will wait to find out whether she’ll actually be racing by the end of this week.