Red Sox acquire closer Andrew Bailey from Athletics

New Boston Red Sox Manager Bobby Valentine found his new pitcher for the back end of the bullpen on Wednesday when the team acquired closer Andrew Bailey and outfielder Ryan Sweeney from the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Josh Reddick, infield prospect Miles Head and minor league pitcher Raul Alcantara.

In the deal, first reported by ESPN, Bailey gives the Red Sox a reliable ninth-inning guy to replace Jonathan Papelbon, who signed a $50-million, four-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in November.

Bailey — the 2009 American League rookie of the year who made the All-Star team that season and again in 2010 — had been the subject of trade talk this off-season.

The right-hander was 0-4 with a 3.24 earned-run average and 24 saves in 412/3 innings and 42 appearances last season. He spent time on the disabled list for the second straight season, pitching for the first time in 2011 on May 29 after being sidelined because of a strained right forearm.

In his career, he is 7-10 with a 2.07 ERA and 75 saves in 84 opportunities.

The New York Yankees said third baseman Alex Rodriguez is fine after undergoing special treatment on his right knee and left shoulder in Germany this month.

Rodriguez, 36, had plasma-rich platelet injections after a recommendation from the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant. Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday that the team gave its permission after vetting the process.

Rodriguez’s treatment was first reported by the New York Post. Cashman said the therapy is in “complete compliance” with World Anti-Doping Agency and Major League Baseball regulations.

Rodriguez had surgery on his right knee in July and saw his power drop in the second half of the season and the postseason. He played in 99 games and hit 16 home runs.

The Yankees also said they reached an agreement with 37-year-old left-hander Hideki Okajima for a nonroster invitation to spring training.

The Washington Nationals signed free-agent utility player Mark DeRosa to a one-year contact. DeRosa, 36, has a .272 average with six clubs over 14 major league seasons.

ETC.

Penguins’ Crosby still out indefinitely

Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby is participating in light exercise but remains sidelined indefinitely because of concussion symptoms.

Crosby has not played since Dec. 5 and has not practiced for three weeks after he was hit in a 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins. Coach Dan Bylsma said Wednesday that Crosby is dealing with lingering symptoms and is not sure when the forward will return.

Crosby was sidelined for nearly 11 months after sustaining head shots in consecutive games in January. He returned Nov. 21 and scored two goals in his season debut against the New York Islanders. He collected 12 points in eight games before he was injured again.

Bylsma said defenseman Kris Letang, out since Nov. 26 because of a concussion, is feeling better but remains out indefinitely.

Simi Valley native Angela Ruggiero, a skillful defenseman who won four Olympic hockey medals and represented the United States 256 times — more than any other player — retired from the U.S. women’s national team program.

Ruggiero, 31, played in 10 World Championships and in Olympic competition, in which she won a gold medal in 1998, silver in 2002 and 2010 and bronze in 2006. She will continue to serve on the U.S. Olympic Committee’s board and the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes Commission, Evaluation Committee for the 2018 Games and Coordination Commission.

— Helene Elliott

Joel Armia had two goals and an assist, leading Finland to a 4-1 win over the United States in a Pool B game at the world junior hockey championships in Edmonton, Canada.

The Southeastern Conference released its first 14-team football schedule with new members Missouri and Texas A&M as part of the conference.

Teams will still play eight conference games, with six against division opponents and two against the other division. The SEC championship game will be Dec. 1 in Atlanta.

Anna Fenninger of Austria skied a nearly flawless second run at Lienz, Austria, and won a giant slalom — her first World Cup victory — while American Lindsey Vonn extended her lead in the overall standings.

Fenninger, 22, was 0.23 of a second off the lead in sixth place after the first leg. She used a superb second run to finish in a combined time of 2 minutes 16.08 seconds.

Federica Brignone of Italy was 0.20 of a second behind and Tessa Worley of France was third. Viktoria Rebensburg of Germany, who led after the first run, finished fourth and Vonn was fifth.

Vonn, who won the season-opening grand slalom in October, has 599 points this season, 231 more than Fenninger, who moved into second place overall.

Two sports executives sued former Philadelphia 76ers owner Comcast-Spectacor, seeking a $2-million finder’s fee over the team’s October sale.

Robert Whitsitt and Thomas Shine say they introduced investor Jason Levien to Comcast-Spectacor Chairman Edward Snider. They say they were promised $2 million if they found a buyer and met other conditions.

Levien is a former Sacramento Kings executive and Whitsitt is a former president of the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers. Shine is an executive at Canton, Mass.-based Reebok International Ltd.

Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, a former No. 1-ranked player who won a U.S. Open title and three French Open trophies during her career, was selected captain of Spain’s Fed Cup team. Sanchez-Vicario, 40, agreed a two-year deal. Her first match will be against Russia in the first round of the World Group on Feb. 4-5.

Tournament director Craig Tiley said James Blake has withdrawn from next month’s Australian Open. Tiley announced the American’s withdrawal in a Twitter post Wednesday but provided no explanation.