Off the wire

FOOTBALL Hightower re-signed

The New England Patriots have re-signed Pro Bowl linebacker Dont’a Hightower. Hightower’s agency, SportsTrust Advisors, tweeted the agreement on Wednesday and his agent Pat Dye Jr. confirmed it. The new pact is for four years and $43.5 million. It brings back one of the Patriots’ biggest free agents, who has helped New England win two Super Bowls in his five NFL seasons. He has 372 tackles and 17 sacks since being a first-round pick out of Alabama in 2012. He also had one of the biggest plays in last month’s Super Bowl. He forced a fumble on a sack on Atlanta’s Matt Ryan in the fourth quarter, helping swing the momentum New England’s way in its comeback 34-28 overtime victory. Hightower, 27, took free agent visits with both the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Niners pick up center

The San Francisco 49ers have agreed to acquire center Jeremy Zuttah from the Baltimore Ravens for an exchange of draft picks. The Ravens will move up 12 spots in the sixth round in the deal announced Wednesday. Baltimore will now select with the 186th pick, while San Francisco will have the 198th selection. Zuttah must pass a physical to make the deal official. The Ravens reportedly were going to release Zuttah to save $5.8 million in salary cap space before making the trade. Zuttah has started 117 games in nine seasons, including all 16 last season when he was picked for the Pro Bowl.

Revis’ charges dismissed

A judge has dismissed all charges against former New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis stemming from a fight last month in Pittsburgh. Revis had been charged with aggravated assault and other counts in a fight Feb. 12 in which two men were punched and knocked out. A witness testified Wednesday that he came to Revis’ aid during the fight and was responsible for the knockout punches. Police said the incident began when a man started recording a video of Revis and Revis grabbed his phone and tried to delete it. The Jets released Revis shortly after the incident and he’s yet to sign with another team.

BASEBALL Japan advances

Yoshitomo Tsutsugo sparked a five-run sixth inning with a solo home run to lead Japan over Israel 8-3 Wednesday and into the championship round of the World Baseball Classic. With a perfect 6-0 record through the first two rounds, two-time champion Japan advances from Pool E along with the Netherlands, which beat Cuba 14-1 at Tokyo Dome. Israel and Cuba were eliminated. Israel won its first four games of the tournament but could not match more experienced baseball powers like Japan and the Netherlands in the second round. Cuba came to the WBC with a young team and went 0-3 in the second round. The March 20-22 championship round will be held at Dodger Stadium. It consists of two semifinal games and the winner-take-all championship game.

Agent, trainer convicted

A Miami jury on Wednesday

convicted a Florida sports agent and a baseball trainer on charges they smuggled Cuban baseball players to the U.S. in search of big profits from professional free agent contracts. The verdict came after jurors heard about six weeks of testimony in the trial of Bartolo Hernandez and Julio Estrada, who were indicted on conspiracy and alien smuggling charges for an operation that began in 2009 and involved a number of high-profile Major League Baseball players. The jury deliberated only about five hours before the verdict. Prosecutors said Hernandez faces between three and 15 years in prison and Estrada — convicted of more smuggling counts — faces between five and 35 years behind bars. They also face forfeiture of more than $15.5 million, plus real estate, four Mercedes-Benz vehicles and the contents of bank accounts. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams set sentencing for July 11 and will allow both men to remain free on bail. Defense attorneys promised there would be appeals. Trial evidence showed an existing Cuban smuggling operation that brought people from the communist-run island to Mexico became the platform in 2009 for the much more lucrative trade in elite ballplayers. People involved in that operation testified it was ultimately overseen by Hernandez and Estrada.

BASKETBALL Huskies fire coach

Washington has fired coach Lorenzo Romar after 15 seasons at the school, falling short of an NCAA Tournament bid in the final six despite a steady stream of NBA talent. Washington Athletic Director Jennifer Cohen announced the decision Wednesday, although a split between Romar and his alma mater seemed destined as the Huskies slogged through another lackluster season — even with freshman star Markelle Fultz, a projected top-five NBA draft pick. Romar was 298-196 in his 15 seasons with the Huskies, taking Washington to six NCAA Tournaments and three appearances in the Sweet 16. Washington went 9-22 this season, the worst of Romar’s tenure, and was 2-16 in conference play.

TENNIS Nishikori moves up

Kei Nishikori defeated Donald Young 6-2, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif., with his fifth consecutive victory over the American. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer played later Wednesday in the fourth round, their earliest meeting since they first played each other in 2004 in the third round at Miami. Nadal owns a 23-12 lead in their 13-year rivalry. Novak Djokovic puts his 19-match Indian Wells winning streak on the line against 15th-seeded Nick Kyrgios. Also moving on to the quarterfinals are No. 21 Pablo Carreno Busta, who beat qualifier Dusan Lajovic; and No. 27 Pablo Cuevas, who outlasted 11th-seeded David Goffin 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. On the women’s side, No. 8 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova beat 19th-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-2 to reach the semifinals.