Padres acquire outfielder Carlos Quentin from White Sox

Four years after trading Carlos Quentin from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Chicago White Sox, new Padres General Manager Josh Byrnes is bringing the All-Star outfielder back home to San Diego.

Byrnes made his second bold move in two weeks when he acquired Quentin from the White Sox for two prospects Saturday.

The trade is expected to bolster San Diego’s offense. Quentin has four consecutive 20-homer seasons, and he hit 36 in 2008.

“Improving our offense is a priority this off-season, and the acquisition of Carlos gives us a proven middle-of-the-order bat,� Byrnes said in a statement. “We specifically targeted Carlos because of his production and his hard-nosed style of play.�

Quentin is expected to play left field.

The White Sox received minor league pitchers Simon Castro, a right-hander, and Pedro Hernandez, a left-hander.

A shoulder injury limited Quentin to one game in the final month of last season, but Byrnes said the outfielder is healthy.

Quentin, 29, hit .254 with 24 home runs, a career-high 31 doubles and drove in 77 runs in 118 games in 2011, when he made his second All-Star team.

Two weeks earlier, Byrnes dealt right-hander Mat Latos to the Cincinnati Reds for four players, including starter Edinson Volquez and Yonder Alonso, the leading contender to start at first base.

ETC.

Djokovic wins at Abu Dhabi

Novak Djokovic showed he remains the player to beat in 2012, routing David Ferrer, 6-2, 6-1, at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and winning the World Tennis Championship exhibition tournament.

The top-ranked Djokovic also beat Gael Monfils and Roger Federer en route to his first Abu Dhabi title.

Rafael Nadal overcame an ailing shoulder and beat Federer, 6-1, 7-5, for third place in the $250,000, winner-take-all six-man tournament.

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Andy Murray hired eight-time Grand Slam winner Ivan Lendl as his coach in a bid to finally win a major title. The world’s fourth-ranked player will begin working with Lendl as he prepares for the Australian Open, which begins Jan. 16.

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Eric Lindros made a triumphant return to Philadelphia and helped lead the Flyers to a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers in the NHL’s alumni game at Citizens Bank Park. Lindros assisted on the first goal of the game, connecting with former Legion of Doom linemate John LeClair.

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The Rangers assigned veteran forward Sean Avery to the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League after he cleared waivers. Avery, who had not played in nine games in a row before he was put on waivers, is in the final year of a $15.5-million, four-year contract.

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Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman James Wisniewski is expected to be out for six weeks after taking a puck to the inside of his left ankle while blocking a shot Thursday in a 4-1 win at Dallas. He will not require surgery but won’t be able to walk on his left leg for at least two weeks before getting a walking boot.

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Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman has a concussion and is out indefinitely. Hedman was injured Tuesday night against Philadelphia by a check that Lightning General Manager Steve Yzerman said was clean.

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Ottawa Senators defenseman Sergei Gonchar did not play against the Buffalo Sabres after being struck in the head by a puck during warmups Saturday. Senators spokesman Chris Moore said the 17-year NHL veteran was held out as a precaution.

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Police said Minnesota Vikings cornerback Benny Sapp was cited for fifth-degree assault and careless driving, both misdemeanors, after a run-in with security at Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis.

According to police, officers were called Friday morning after Sapp and his 11-year-old son tried to enter the hospital through a closed entrance. The Star Tribune reported that Sapp left his son with a hospital security guard, saying the boy’s mother was inside and he had to go to work.

Sapp is accused of pushing a security officer who tried to detain him in the parking ramp. Police Sgt. Bill Palmer said Sapp then bumped a security officer who was standing in front of his vehicle.

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Blackburn pulled off the biggest surprise of the Premier League season, defeating Manchester United, 3-2, at Old Trafford and spoiling Alex Ferguson’s 70th birthday.

United erased a 2-0 deficit on two second-half goals by Dimitar Berbatov inside the penalty area. But Grant Hanley scored the winner on a header off a corner kick in the 80th minute, capitalizing on a mistake by goalkeeper David de Gea.

Ferguson earlier marked his birthday by pledging to stay in his job for at least another three years.

“I think I’ve got three years with the club,� Ferguson said. “As long as my health stays up, as long as I’m still enjoying it, still giving the satisfaction of the team doing its best.�