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MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins have found a replacement for Joe Mauer at catcher. The Twins and catcher Kurt Suzuki agreed to a $2.75 million, one-year contract on Friday, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Suzuki has to pass a physical before the contract can be signed. Minnesota was in the market for a veteran catcher after announcing last month that Mauer was moving to first base. It was a difficult decision for Mauer, the two-time AL batting champion who always has felt his value to the team was highest when he was catching. But a concussion from a batted ball deflecting off his head on Aug. 19 ended his season and ultimately is what convinced Mauer to relent. The Twins had an opening at first base after trading Justin Morneau to Pittsburgh, so Mauer will take over for his long-time friend as the full-time first baseman. Once that decision was made, the Twins went into the free-agent market looking for a veteran who could handle a revamped pitching staff and give them some production at the plate. They had conversations with A.J. Pierzynski and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but both chose to sign elsewhere. Thats when the Twins turned their attention to Suzuki, who hit .232 with five homers and 32 RBIs for the Washington Nationals and Oakland Athletics last season. Hell be counted on to help integrate newcomers Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes to the starting rotation and bring along younger pitchers like Kyle Gibson and Alex Meyer. The 30-year-old Suzuki will also be tasked with mentoring prospect Josmil Pinto, who filled in nicely for Mauer at the end of last season. Pinto hit .342 with four homers in 21 games last season. But the 24-year-old Venezuelan has a long way to go when it comes to defence and calling a game, so Suzuki and bench coach Terry Steinbach will be there to help him along. Suzuki only threw out 12 per cent of base stealers last season, but has thrown out 26 per cent in his big league career. Daniel Kilgore Jersey . Arsene Wenger reportedly wants to convert the player into an attacking force, much like he did with Robin Van Persie. Durham Smythe Dolphins Jersey . That time around, the cage is as much a part of baseballs daily routine as a beer and a hotdog is to a fan in the stands. Coaches, scouts, broadcasters and other media hover, tossing verbal barbs, telling stories and sharing laughs. Occasionally, especially in spring when the atmosphere is relatively laid back, the list of invited guests expands and on this day, Gibbons welcomed two men strongly influential in his life. http://www.dolphinsrookiestore.com/Dolphins-Frank-Gore-Jersey/ . Appearing on TSN 690 Monday afternoon, Mike Babcock said he had conversations with both P.K. Subban and Carey Price about those on-ice traits during Hockey Canadas summer orientation camp. Mike Babcock: McGill experience, P. Daniel Kilgore Dolphins Jersey .com) - Willie Cauley-Stein and Karl-Anthony Towns each scored 12 points in the top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats 70-55 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide. Albert Wilson Jersey . Patrik Bartosak turned away 50-of-52 shots for the Rebels (28-26-4), who halted their losing streak at seven games. Trailing 2-1 after 40 minutes of play, Feser forced overtime with his second goal of the game at 5:35 of the third period.Having already locked up their fifth consecutive series victory, the Toronto Blue Jays will try to sweep the Tampa Bay Rays for the first time since 2010 as the clubs conclude a three-game set tonight. The Blue Jays have slugged their way to a pair of victories to open this set, pushing their winning streak to an impressive eight straight games. Tuesdays 9-6 win gave Toronto a fifth straight series victory for the first time since Sept. 17-Oct. 3, 2010 and put the club in position to sweep Tampa Bay in a three-game set for the first time since Aug. 6-8, 2010 in Toronto. Toronto has homered in 10 straight games, with Edwin Encarnacion a big part of that surge. He went deep in last nights win to match a club record for the most homers in a month with 14. That equaled Jose Bautistas mark set in June of 2012. Juan Francisco and Adam Lind also homered, while Bautista went 3-for-4 with an RBI in Torontos 13th win in 15 games. "Everybodys having fun," Encarnacion said. "You can see it on their faces. Were playing great baseball." That also holds true for starter Mark Buehrle, who picked up his Major League- leading ninth win of the season last night. He gave up four runs -- three earned -- over 6 2/3 innings. Sean Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with three RBI and Wil Myers knocked in two runs for the Rays, who had won four in a row prior to this series. Tampa Bay starter Alex Cobb came into Tuesdays start with a 21 2/2 scoreless- innings streak. He stretched that to a club-record 24 2/3 straight frames before the Blue Jays finally got to him for a total of six runs over his five- inning outing. "He was really good, moving along really nicely and all of a suddeen they struck," Rays manager Joe Maddon said of Cobb.dddddddddddd Now it will be Chris Archers turn to try and tame the Blue Jays offense and he comes in having not allowed a run in his past two outings. Archer hurled 5 2/3 frames of two-hit ball in a 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels on May 16, then did not factor into Fridays decision versus Boston despite six scoreless innings. Archer scattered four hits and five walks while matching a career high with 11 strikeouts and throwing a personal high 119 pitches. Walks have been a concern for the right-hander as he has issued 19 free passes over his last five outings, but still comes in 3-2 on the year with a 4.11 earned run average. Archer, 25, is 2-0 with a 2.01 ERA in four previous meetings with the Blue Jays, beating them on April 3 after giving up two runs over six frames with seven strikeouts. The Blue Jays counter with Liam Hendriks, who made his Toronto and season debut with a 3-2 win over Oakland on Friday. The righty yielded one run on three hits and three walks, also fanning three in 5 2/3 frames. "I was given opportunities in Minnesota and I didnt capitalize on them," said the 25-year-old Hendriks, who played for the Twins from 2011-2013. "Now Ive got a different mindset coming into the season of just getting ready, getting aggressive and getting after guys early. "I think its paid dividends so far and hopefully I can continue this trend and stay up here all year." Hendriks, who was 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA in nine games this year with Triple-A Buffalo before getting recalled, faced the Rays once before while with the Twins and did not get a decision, allowing four runs over 5 2/3 frames in the start. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '