Einladungen » may be able to pry Love away from the Tim

SEATTLE - The priority for general manager Jack Zduriencik and manager Lloyd McClendon was to add a pair of right-handed hitters and a starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners this off-season.Seattle gained the second right-handed bat it sought on Wednesday, acquiring Justin Ruggiano from the Chicago Cubs for minor league pitcher Matt Brazis.While the acquisition of Ruggiano is not close to the same scale of the signing of slugger Nelson Cruz this month, it fulfills Seattles the need to find a right fielder that has strong career numbers against left-handed pitching.This is an addition we had talked about for a while, Zduriencik said.Ruggiano appeared in 81 games last season for the Cubs, hitting .281 with six homers and 28 RBIs but was slowed by two stints on the disabled list, including season-ending ankle surgery to remove bone spurs. Ruggiano said he finished his rehabilitation on his ankle about three weeks ago.Hes shown glimpses of power and hitting for average during two seasons in Miami. In 2012, Ruggiano batted .313 with 13 homers, a year after hitting a career-best 18 home runs in 128 games.Ruggiano also provides flexibility in the outfield; hes played all three positions. He was a little surprised by the trade.I want to be a part of that lineup every day, Ruggiano said. But Im here to fill whatever role they want me to fill and help Seattle win some games.Ruggianos career splits make him almost a certainty to be in Seattles lineup whenever a lefty is on the mound. For his career, Ruggiano has a .266 batting average, .508 slugging percentage and .836 on-base plus slugging against left-handed pitching.We saw this as a guy who certainly could hit left-handed pitching, he has done that in his career, Zduriencik said.Seattle designated for assignment pitcher Logan Bawcom to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Ruggiano.Brazis, 25, was 4-1 and a 2.36 ERA in 40 relief appearances last season with Single-A High Desert and Double-A Jackson. Thomas Hickey Jersey . He just didnt expect them to be this good. Darrun Hilliard scored 19 points to lead No. 6 Villanova to a dominating 77-59 victory over Georgetown on Saturday, preserving the Wildcats hopes of a No. Shane Prince Jersey . Notes on Bergeron, Marchand, Gorges, Vanek, Gaborik, Doughty, Hiller and more. BRUINS STORM BACK TO TAKE GAME TWO The Boston Bruins rallied from a 3-1 deficit, scoring four unanswered goals, to win Game Two, 5-3 over the Montreal Canadiens. http://www.cheapislandersjerseys.com/?ta...rew-ladd-jersey. - Regan Smith had the checkered flag in sight at Daytona a year ago and a freight train of cars in his rearview mirror. Cheap Islanders Jerseys . - A late-game interception by defensive back Malcolm Butler saved the Super Bowl for the New England Patriots. Johnny Boychuk Jersey . The win gives Canada its fifth title at the World Sledge Hockey Challenge. "Weve got to keep pushing," said Westlake, who led Canada with five goals in the tournament. "The second you let off the pedal, everyone catches up.CLEVELAND -- Sitting on a stage last week alongside No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins and new coach David Blatt, general manager David Griffin said he hoped this would be a monumental off-season for the Cavaliers. Its already been quite a summer. And LeBron James is still out there. Cleveland kept its momentum rolling early Tuesday by getting All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving to agree to a new, five-year, $90 million contract extension. Irvings deal, completed with a handshake in New York with owner Dan Gilbert, cements a commitment with Cleveland that wasnt always so strong. "Im here for the long haul Cleveland!!!! And Im ecstatic!!" Irving wrote on his Twitter account shortly after the agreement was reached. "Super excited and blessed to be here and a part of something special." For months, Irvings future with the Cavs seemed uncertain. There were reports he wasnt happy in Cleveland as well as speculation the Cavs didnt believe he was a cornerstone player. There were trade rumours and rumblings the team was not going to offer him the maximum extension. Whatever differences there may have been seem to have been worked out. Griffin, who likes to refer to his team as "family," has the Cavs united. James surely has noticed. The Cavs have waited four years for their chance to lure the four-time league MVP back home. This may be the perfect time. Because Irvings extension doesnt kick in until the 2015-16 season, the Cavs have room under the salary cap to pursue free agents. They would have to move some other contracts if the reports are accurate that James will only sign for a max deal. Griffin has said clearing space to accommodate a five-year, $120 million contract would be extremely easy. The hard part might be getting James to believe the Cavs, who have not made the playoffs since he left in 2010, are title contenders -- now. Theyve got some quality pieces for sure, but do they have enough? Irving, who played in a career-high 71 games this past season, has established himself as one of the NBAs elite point guards, and now that the contract situation is no longer an issue, it may unburden him to play the best basketball of his life.dddddddddddd The 6-foot-8 Wiggins would have been the top pick a year ago if he hadnt gone to college and James has long admired the 19-year-olds gifts. Its somewhat interesting that Griffin said Wiggins potential greatness would come at shooting guard, perhaps leaving an opening at small forward for a certain former Cavalier. To entice James, the Cavs may need to make a blockbuster move. Theyve got some assets to play with and a trade involving talented guard Dion Waiters could bring back a starter. Griffin hinted that he isnt done remodeling the Cavs. "We need to continue to work on the defensive side of the ball," he said at Wiggins introductory news conference. "We need to get better from a basketball IQ standpoint, from a shooting perspective. And all of those moves will be forthcoming." For several years, the Cavs have been involved in trade rumours involving Kevin Love, who has one year left on his deal with Minnesota. If Cleveland can package the right pieces together, they may be able to pry Love away from the Timberwolves. Love and James were teammates four years ago in the London Olympics, where they helped the U.S. win a gold medal. Back then, James said that when he won his first championship with Miami, his thoughts quickly shifted to Cleveland and what might have been. "I wish I could have won one there," he said before a practice. "I could only imagine how the parade would have been down East Ninth Street. Of course I thought about it because Cleveland helped me get to that point. The days that I spent there helped me get to the point where I was able to finally win one. Its just unfortunate I wasnt able to do it there." Its possible James will re-sign with the Heat and the Cavs will move on without him. But if they decide to pursue the two-time champion in the days ahead and get a meeting with James, the Cavs can sell their team and tug at his heart. James has never rejected the idea of a return to Cleveland. Maybe this is the summer to mend fences and start anew in a familiar place. ' ' '