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Reports: Blue Jays, Marlins in big trade

MIAMI, Nov. 13 (UPI) — The Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins have pulled off one of the largest trades in baseball history, Fox Sports and USA Today reported Tuesday.

The outlets, citing unnamed sources, reported the Blue Jays will receive starting pitcher Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, shortstop Jose Reyes, infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonifacio and catcher John Buck from the Marlins.

In return, the Marlins will receive shortstops Yunel Escobar and Adeiny Hechavarria, starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez, a catcher (possibly starter J.P. Arencibia) and a pair of minor leaguers, Fox reported.

The move appeared to be salary purge for the Marlins, especially with Reyes, who signed to a $106 million contract with the team two years ago, while Buehrle is due $52 million over three years of his current deal, USA Today said.

The Marlins’ moves came after a disappointing 69-93 season — their first in a new $635 million stadium — and the firing of Manager Ozzie Guillen.

The Blue Jays, meanwhile, were seeking to upgrade their pitching to compete for an American League East crown in 2013.

Johnson, Melvin win Manager of the Year

NEW YORK, Nov. 13 (UPI) — Washington Nationals skipper Davey Johnson and Oakland Athletics counterpart Bob Melvin Tuesday were named baseball’s Managers of the Year.

Johnson, 69, won the National League honors after guiding the Nationals to a 98-win season and their first division title, engineering a major turnaround after taking over from Jim Riggleman in midway through the 2011 campaign.

The Nats’ win total marked an 18-game improvement over the previous year and their NL East crown was the first for the franchise since 1981, when it was known as the Montreal Expos.

Johnson’s Manager of the Year award was his second — he also was chosen as the AL’s top skipper in 1997 while with Baltimore.

Melvin, meanwhile, garnered the AL honors with another turnaround story in Oakland, where the A’s improved by 20 games over 2011 and won an unexpected AL West title.

He guided them to an MLB-best 57-26 after June 30, including a season-ending three-game sweep of Texas to clinch the division.

Melvin, 51, also won the NL Manager of the Year while with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2007.

Tight end Stevens released after arrest

KIRKLAND, Wash., Nov. 13 (UPI) — Former Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens was released from custody Tuesday after a domestic violence arrest involving U.S. soccer star Hope Solo.

Kirkland, Wash., Municipal Court Judge Michael Lambo released Stevens at a bail hearing on a charge of fourth-degree assault following a Monday arrest at a home in Kirkland, Seattlepi.com reported.

Police charged Stevens with domestic assault after they were called to the home and observed an intoxicated Solo — Stevens’ reported fiancee — with blood and a fresh laceration on her elbow.

Solo’s brother Marcus had blood on his forehead and knees and a bruised eye, police said in their report. Both allegedly said they had been attacked by uninvited guests during a party.

Authorities, however, said Stevens was found upstairs under a bed with blood on his cheek and shirt.

Lambo cited a lack of evidence and the non-cooperation of witnesses in releasing the former Washington Huskies star, the website reported.

Stevens, 33, is currently a free agent after being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following a 2010 marijuana arrest. He was also arrested last year in connection with a Tampa, Fla., bar fight.

Charges dropped against Vikings’ Peterson

HOUSTON, Nov. 13 (UPI) — Charges of resisting arrest against Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson have been dismissed in Texas, his attorney said Tuesday.

A Harris County, Texas, grand jury found no probable cause to charge the NFL’s leading rusher in connection with a July 7 incident during closing time at a Houston night club, attorney Rusty Hardin told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Police had contended Peterson became belligerent and uncooperative during an argument with club security at Bayou Place, but the player claimed police had unfairly tackled, punched and arrested him.

Peterson, who has racked up 1,128 yards this season, contended at an earlier court hearing he did not initiate any contact with police or security, the newspaper said.