CLEVELAND -- Former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel was among a group who had lunch with free agent outfielder Nick Swisher on his visit with the Cleveland Indians.
The Indians tugged on Swisher's deep Ohio State ties -- he played baseball for the Buckeyes -- in hopes of signing the 32-year-old. Swisher and his wife, Joanna, visited Progressive Field on Tuesday.
The couple, expecting its first child in May, toured the team's family room, a suite and the clubhouse before the Indians played a video on the scoreboard that included messages from current Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer and basketball coach Thad Matta, who encouraged Swisher to sign with Cleveland.
Swisher is mulling an offer from the Indians, who have a hole in right field after trading Shin-Soo Choo last week.
• Football
Haynes to Kent: Paul Haynes has been formally announced as Kent State's new coach on Tuesday by athletic director Joel Nielsen. He replaces Darrell Hazell, who led the Golden Flashes to an 11-2 season before taking a job at Purdue Dec. 5. Haynes last was the defensive coordinator at Arkansas.
Haynes, 49, who played at Kent State (1987-91), was on Jim Tressel's staff for seven years at Ohio State and was also an assistant at Michigan State, Louisville, Northern Iowa, Ferris State and Bowling Green.
Youngest coach: Western Michigan introduced P.J. Fleck as its new football coach Tuesday. The Broncos hired the 32-year-old Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant, making him the youngest coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Fleck played at Northern Illinois from 1999-2003 and later was an assistant coach there.
AP top player: Chalk up another major award for Johnny Manziel. The Texas A&M quarterback became the first freshman to be voted The Associated Press Player of the Year in college football on Tuesday. He also won the Heisman Trophy and Davey O'Brien Award.
Manziel collected 31 votes to 15 for Manti Te'o, Notre Dame's star linebacker, who finished second.
Next at Wisconsin: Wisconsin will hire Utah State's Gary Andersen as head football coach to replace Bret Bielema, according to multiple media reports. The Wisconsin State Journal was first to report that Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez had offered Andersen the job. Andersen is in his fourth year at Utah State and is coming off his best season yet.
Pleads guilty: Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson pleaded guilty to driving with a suspended license and remains eligible to play in the Outback Bowl against South Carolina. Wolverines spokesman David Ablauf said that Robinson paid a fine and faces no additional punishment from the school.
Leaves sidelines: Gary Gaines, the 63-year-old high school coach at the center of the Friday Night Lights book and film, has left the Odessa Permian sideline for the last time. Gaines said he resigned from the West Texas football program he helped make famous. He said he doubts he'll coach again but wasn't sure what's next for him. He leaves with a 69-28-1 record in eight years as Permian's head coach.
• Baseball
Rays ink Hernandez: The Tampa Bay Rays signed right-hander Roberto Hernandez, the pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona. The one-year deal is worth $3.25 million.
The 32-year-old Hernandez has pitched seven years in the majors, all with Cleveland. He was 0-3 with a 7.53 ERA last season.
Signs with Red Sox: The Boston Red Sox moved forward with their strategy of giving free agents short-term contracts by reaching a $9.5 million, one-year agreement with shortstop Stephen Drew.
Drew hit .250 with five homers and 16 RBIs in 39 games for the Oakland Athletics last season.
• Elsewhere
Cavs defeated: Jose Calderon scored a season-high 23 points, and Toronto won on the road for the second time this season, beating Cleveland 113-99. Kyrie Irving, coming off a career-high 41 points Saturday, scored 23 points for Cleveland.
Early start: Major League Soccer's season will open March 2 with six games on its earliest start date. Among the games are Columbus at Chivas USA.
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