AP – The Kansas City Royals picked up the leadoff hitter they had been seeking, acquiring center fielder Coco Crisp from the Boston Red Sox for reliever Ramon Ramirez on Wednesday. Kansas City was 12th among 14 AL teams in runs last season and added power last month, obtaining first baseman Mike Jacobs from Florida.

AP – Don Wakamatsu is proud to be the first Asian-American manager in major league history. He’s also keenly aware of what his grandparents endured, generations before he took over the Seattle Mariners.

AP – The Arizona Cardinals declined to consider releasing Edgerrin James when the running back’s agent inquired about the possibility, the team’s general manager said Wednesday.

Reuters – Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Earnest Graham will miss the rest of the season because of an ankle injury, the team said on Wednesday.

AP – Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez reached into the middle drawer of his desk and pulled out 10 large index cards filled with notes.

AP – Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen has been fined $25,000 for a recent spate of late hits, but he won’t be suspended.

AP – With leading rusher Earnest Graham out for the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will lean more on Warrick Dunn.

AP – The Kansas City Royals picked up the leadoff hitter they had been seeking, acquiring center fielder Coco Crisp from the Boston Red Sox for reliever Ramon Ramirez on Wednesday.

AP – Randy Thomas stared in puzzled silence at the numbers for the longest time, then finally starting laughing. If the Pro Bowl voting were to end right now, the veteran right guard would be on his way to Hawaii — along with 19 of his Washington Redskins teammates.

AP – North Carolina says forward Tyler Zeller will likely miss the rest of the season with a broken wrist.