|  Wys³any: 2019-07-09 06:00:18 Temat postu: The Cubs struck the first big deal among top free-agent
SAN DIEGO - North Side, South Side, Chicago has become the centre of baseball at the winter meetings.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.) Cody Barton Youth Jersey . Philbin said Thursday he wants players to treat one another with civility and he wont tolerate anything less. In taking questions for the first time since Ted Wells released his report into the bullying scandal that rocked the league, Philbin made it clear things would be cleaned up. Shaun Alexander Womens 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). http://www.seahawksfansofficial.com/ugo-amadi-jersey/ .Mallais and his team out of Saint John defeated James Grattan 5-4 in Fredericton.The 2015 Tim Hortons Brier from Feb. Ugo Amadi Jersey . Scott scored a career-high 30 points, Jeff Teague added 28 and the Hawks rallied to beat the New York Knicks 107-98 on Saturday night. "We were down Paul, down so many bodies," Scott said. Cody Barton Womens Jersey . Top-ranked Rafael Nadal was also taken to three sets but emerged with a 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3 win over Tobias Kamke of Germany, while second-seeded David Ferrer joined Murray in making an early exit after a 6-4, 7-5 loss to Daniel Brands of Germany.OAKLAND, Calif. - The Golden State Warriors wanted Steve Kerr from the start but still wondered about his ability to coach. Kerr had his own questions for the Warriors before being convinced to take the job, notably what led to the bitter divorce between the team and Mark Jackson. Both got the answers that they had hoped for. Now each is counting on even better results to follow. The Warriors introduced Kerr as their new coach Tuesday at a packed news conference at the teams downtown Oakland headquarters. Kerr signed with the Warriors for five years and about $25 million after rejecting an offer from mentor Phil Jackson to coach the New York Knicks. "Im convinced Phil is going to make it work in New York, but when I sat down with the Warriors, it just clicked," Kerr said. "I think its the right fit for me." Kerr plans to finish his duties broadcasting the Western Conference finals for TNT before starting with the Warriors. The former NBA guard cited Golden States rapid rise the past three seasons and his family in California as his main reasons for taking the job. He replaces Mark Jackson, who was fired by the Warriors on May 6 after a 51-win season and back-to-back playoff appearances in large part because of his sour relationship with team management. Warriors general manager Bob Myers said the team identified Kerr and former Miami Heat and Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy at the beginning of their search. He said Kerr already was too deep in talks with the Knicks, where Phil Jackson took over as team president in March. "We were really just hoping to get an interview with Steve. And he rebuffed us in a very polite way," Myers said, chuckling. Then Van Gundy agreed to a $35 million, five-year deal with Detroit last week to coach the Pistons and oversee basketball operations. Shortly thereafter, Kerrs agent, Mike Tannenbaum, called the Warriors and asked for a meeting. Myers, Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob, assistant GM Kirk Lacob, and director of player personnel Travis Schlenk met with Kerr for more than three hours last Tuesday in Oklahoma City, where Kerr was calling the Thunder-Clippers game. Myers and Lacob said the teams biggest questioons were about Kerrs lack of coaching experience, which he outlined during a PowerPoint presentation.dddddddddddd "He blew our socks off," Lacob said. "Steve Kerr and Bob Myers together is my dream team. That is a dream team." Kerr still had questions about why Jackson was fired after improving in each of his three seasons. He said it was refreshing to hear Lacob and Myers both admit mistakes, which he could relate to from his time as general manager of the Phoenix Suns from 2007-10. "I felt like I got a lot of clarity on the circumstances on the situation," Kerr said, declining to elaborate. Kerr, 48, helped Arizona to its first Final Four appearance in 1988. He won three titles for Phil Jackson in Chicago and another two under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio during his 15-year NBA playing career. Kerrs former coach at Arizona, Lute Olson, sat in the front row at his news conference. Lacob and Warriors co-owner Peter Guber also sat in the front row alongside Kerrs wife, Margot, and two of their three children, Nick and Madeline, who plays volleyball nearby at the University of California, Berkeley. The Warriors had a video display of "Kerrs Legendary Coaches," showing pictures of Jackson, Popovich, Olson, Lenny Wilkens and Cotton Fitzsimmons. Kerr said he will take the knowledge and experience from them — and other coaches he met with before games as a TNT broadcaster — and employ them with the Warriors. Kerr said his system will have principles of the Triangle Offense that won Jackson an NBA-record 11 titles as coach of the Bulls and Lakers but "will not be the Bulls of the 1990s." He said it will be more tailored to suit star Stephen Currys pick-and-roll abilities while adding some of the off-the-ball movement the Spurs do so well. Kerr has yet to hire a staff. He said he reached out to every Warriors player — almost all of whom publicly said they wanted Jackson to return — and has spoken with all but two of them so far. He said the feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive. "I think theyre excited to get back to work," Kerr said. "And Im excited to get started." Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Cheap NBA Jerseys Wholesale NHL Jerseys Wholesale MLB Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Wholesale NCAA Jerseys Wholesale Football Jerseys Wholesale Basketball Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys ' ' ' |
The Cubs struck the first big deal among top free-agent
