Reports: A's land Cuban slugger Cespedes
Baseball Betting Lines
02/13/2012 - Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics and coveted Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes agreed to terms on a four-year contract Monday, according to reports.
The deal is worth $36 million and won't be officially announced until Cespedes completes a physical, MLB.com reported.
Under terms of the contract, the A's will not be able to offer the 26-year-old arbitration, meaning he will automatically become a free agent following the 2015 season, according to MLB.com.
Several other teams were said to be in the running to land Cespedes, a Cuban defector who has been granted residency in the Dominican Republic.
The Miami Marlins also offered him $36 million, but over six years instead of four, ESPN reported.
Cespedes' contract with the A's will pay him $6.5 million in the first year, $8.5 million in the second and $10.5 million in each of the final two years, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Touted as a five-tool player, Cespedes batted .333 with a league-record 33 home runs during the 2010-11 season in Cuba and started in center field for the country during the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While it may appear that Kentucky head coach John Calipari comfortably plays the part of a New York stockbroker, cynics may believe he is a no-stone-unturned salesman more interested in the commodity's worth
<< Bombers re-sign QB Brink
Winnipeg, MB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers re-signed
quarterback Alex Brink to a new contract on Monday. Terms of the deal were not
disclosed.
In eight games last season, including two starts, Brink threw for 1,023
<< Jeremy Lin highlights NBA Players of the Week
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin was
further acknowledged for his surprising play on Monday, earning Eastern
Conference Player of the Week honors for games completed through February 12.
Oklah
<< Union adds MLS veteran Albright
Chester, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Union has signed MLS veteran
defender Chris Albright, the club announced on Monday.
Albright is a three-time MLS All-Star and has spent 13 seasons in the league
with four teams.
The 33-
<< Oilers ink Sutton to extension
Edmonton, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Edmonton Oilers agreed to terms with
defenseman Andy Sutton on a one-year contract extension Monday.
Acquired on July 1 from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Kurtis
Foster, the 36-ye
Sao Paulo, Brazil (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Italy's Filippo Volandri cruised to a straight-set win over seventh-seeded Albert Montanes on Monday in the first round of the $475,300 Brasil Open. Volandri won nearly 80 percent of his first-serv
NTRA Pre-season Polls released >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The National Thoroughbred Racing Association
(NTRA) released a pair of pre-season 'Kick-Off' polls for the 2012 racing
season. Performances are through Sunday, February 12.
Game On Dude is first in the
NASCAR champ Stewart appearing on ABC television show >>
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
champion Tony Stewart has done some acting during the offseason.
Stewart, who captured his third Sprint Cup title last season, will appear on
an upcoming episod
CAA gets deal with NBC Sports Group >>
Richmond, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colonial Athletic Association announced
Monday a five-year agreement with the NBC Sports Group to broadcast conference
football and men's and women's basketball games.
The agreement begins with the 2012-13
Patriot League adding football scholarships in 2013 >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Touchdown.
After exhaustive debate in recent years, the Patriot League has decided to
start awarding athletic scholarships in football - 15 each year - beginning
with the 2013 season.
The league
NFL Football Betting
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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