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Subject :SAN DIEGO - North Side, South Side, Chicago has become the centre of baseball at the winter meetings
SAN DIEGO - North Side, South Side, Chicago has become the centre of baseball at the winter meetings. Texas Rangers Will Middlebrooks Jersey .The Cubs struck the first big deal among top free-agent pitchers, agreeing Tuesday night to a $155 million, six-year contract with left-hander Jon Lester.Its not often you get to win the lottery, and we won the baseball lottery this year, new Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. Now its up to us to put it into effect.After losing 188 games over two seasons, the White Sox acquired starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija — a former Cub — from the Oakland Athletics as part of a six-player trade Tuesday. That came hours after they reached a $46 million, four-year deal with closer David Robertson.In our mind were not finished yet, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. We still know we have some other areas we need to improve and were hopeful that in the coming days, and if not the coming days, then the coming weeks, well be able to fill a couple more voids in our roster.On the South Side, the White Sox won the title in 2005 for their first championship since 1917.The long-suffering Cubs are seeking their first World Series title since 1908.They gave Lester a deal with an option for 2021 that, if it becomes guaranteed, would make the contract worth $170 million over seven seasons. The average annual value of $25.8 million is the second-highest for a pitcher behind Clayton Kershaws $30.7 million as part of a $215 million, seven-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers that began this year.A three-time All-Star who turns 31 next month, Lester won two World Series titles with Boston. Now hes in position to throw the first pitch of the 2015 season, at Wrigley Field against St. Louis on April 5.Earlier Tuesday, the Cubs acquired All-Star catcher Miguel Montero from Arizona for minor league right-handers Jeferson Mejia and Zack Godley — a deal that added $40 million in payroll over the next three years. Chicago has a pending $20 million, two-year deal with right-hander Jason Hammel, traded by the Cubs to Oakland last summer.Maddon had been used to small payrolls in Tampa Bay.Ive not been on this side since my days with the Angels, when I got an email in Italy that we had signed Vladimir Guerrero, said Maddon, who was a coach in Anaheim before switching to Tampa Bay. I think that definitely sends that message how Theo (Epstein) and the group feel about this particular group. But understand, we have a lot of young players that have to grow up as quickly as possible. But having Jon there adds to the flavour and the possibility.Lesters deal should lead to more intensive negotiations involving teams interested in free-agent pitchers Max Scherzer and James Shields. Lester also had been sought by Boston, World Series champion San Francisco and the Dodgers.In the days other moves, the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to a $39 million, three-year deal to keep left-hander Francisco Liriano. And Atlanta agreed to a one-year deal with free-agent infielder Alberto Callaspo.The deals for Robertson, Liriano and Callaspo were disclosed by people familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because they had not been announced.Samardzija played football for Notre Dame before pitching for the Cubs.Being a Chicago guy, thats one of the craziest things Ive thought about, he said. Im sitting here thinking, Now, do I really have to go get my cleats on and go play for the Bears? If I could skate, maybe the Hawks. My jumpers garbage, so the Bulls are out of the question.Trading an All-Star for the third time in less than two weeks, the Athletics sent Samardzija and right-hander Michael Ynoa for right-hander Chris Bassitt, catcher Josh Phegley and first baseman Rangel Ravelo and infielder Marcus Semien.Samardzija was 31-42 with a 3.97 ERA for the Chicago Cubs from 2008 until July 5, when he was traded to the As. He went 5-6 with a 3.14 ERA for Oakland. He can become a free agent next autumn.Earlier in the off-season, the White Sox agreed to a $25 million, two-year contract with first baseman Adam LaRoche and a $15 million, three-year deal with left-hander Zach Duke.Were going to make every effort to make this a long-term relationship, Hahn said. We felt that this was a premium starter who fit, not just in terms of how he fit in our rotation, but how he fit in our clubhouse.Samardzija wasnt so sure he would want to miss free agency.Youre so close to it, you really want to experience it, he maintained. But like I said before, when the situations right, its right. When the numbers are right, theyre right.___AP Sports Writers Howie Rumberg and Andrew Seligman contributed to this report.___(A previous version of this story incorrectly identified a player. It is Jose Quintana, not Joel Quintana.) Prince Fielder Rangers Jersey . The 36-year-old Colts receiver is going back to the playoffs as a division champion. Nomar Mazara Rangers Jersey . -- The Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a minor league contract with reliever Brandon Lyon that includes an invitation to their big league camp for spring training. http://www.authenticrangersproshop.com/nolan-ryan-rangers-jersey/ . So what happens? Stevenson lands a huge left to Dawsons temple only 76 seconds into the opening round and walks away with the championship belt. "I said Id knock him out," said Stevenson (21-1). NEWARK, N.J. -- Devils coach Pete DeBoer has been looking for one of his goalies to get hot and take over the majority of the playing time. Marty Brodeur gave DeBoer a clear answer Saturday night with one of his best games of the season. Dainius Zubrus scored two goals in the third period and Brodeur made 33 saves, leading the New Jersey Devils past the Tampa Bay Lightning, 3-0. "Its exactly what we needed at the right time," DeBoer said of Brodeur. "That game (Friday, 3-2 loss to the Penguins) night took a lot out of us and I knew the difference was going to be the goaltending." Brodeur earned his third shutout of the season and 124th of his career. "I know for me, its always been hard not to be there all the time," Brodeur said. "Its the way it is when you have two guys who can play. It always makes decisions difficult." Jaromir Jagr assisted on both goals to raise his assist total to 1,024. Damien Brunners seventh goal had broken the scoreless tie in the second period. "It was a really nice pass and it doesnt happen a lot these days," Brunner said. "I was able to generate some speed and Geli (Eric Gelinas) made a great pass." Jagr skated behind the net and passed to Zubrus on doorstep of the crease for the goal at 6:44 of the period. Then, at 9:36, Jagr put a backhand shot on goal and Zubrus was there to knock in the rebound for his seventh goal and a 3-0 advantage. Brodeur came up with two of his best saves in the third to thwart the Lightning. First, he turned away a breakaway chance with a pad save on Nikita Kucherovs shot. Then he smothered a point-blank shot by J.T. Brown. "I have no clue," when asked how he made the save on Kucherov. Elvis Andrus Jersey. "I didnt feel it and didnt know what it was. I got lucky." Brunner scored at the 15:37 mark. Rookie defenceman Eric Gelinas made a pass up the middle to Brunners stick, just before the blue line. Brunner got between two defenders for a break on goal, deked to his left and then pushed a forehand past Lightning goalie Anders Lindback. Mark Fayne was credited with an assist. The Lightning put pressure on Brodeur in the second period, outshooting the Devils 14-5. Before Brunners goal, Brodeur had Martin St. Louis muttering to himself in the second period after the Devils goalie foiled a scoring chance by the Lightnings star. St. Louis received a pass in front and wristed a high shot from the point that Brodeur managed to grab out of the air with his glove. "Marty was Marty tonight, for sure," St. Louis said. "I didnt get a lot of wood on it and I was frustrated. It was a good save. We were surging and had chances, but they got the second goal, that made it tough." In the first minute of the third period, Brunner was denied a second goal when Lindback came up with a big save on a shot from the right circle. NOTES: The Devils were 3 for 3 in penalty kills vs. the Lighting, giving them the best penalty kill percentage in the NHL .933 (42 of 45). ... Tampa Bay star Steve Stamkos joined his teammates for the morning skate at the Prudential Center on Saturday, 33 days after breaking his leg in a collision with a goal post. "My 4-week X-ray looks good. Im just trying to progress," said Stamkos in a video on the Lightning website. Stamkos had 14 goals and 23 points in 17 games before the Nov. 11 injury sustained in Boston. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' ' |
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