BALTIMORE -- Two weeks after trading their closer to Oakland, the Baltimore Orioles agreed to a two-year, $15 million contract with former Athletics closer Grant Balfour on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the deal.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah Manchester United Jersey . Balfours contract will not be completed until the right-hander passes a physical, the person told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because the transaction had not been announced by the Orioles. Balfour fills the vacancy left by the trade of closer Jim Johnson, who was dealt to Oakland because Baltimore didnt want to pay him about $10 million a season. Johnson had 50 saves in each of the past two seasons but was in line for a huge raise. "Its really about the allocation of resources and to have a competitive team," Orioles executive vice-president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said at the time. "You have to have proper balance." Balfour is the first significant addition this off-season by the Orioles, who went 85-77 in 2013 but came up short in their bid to reach the post-season for a second straight year. Balfour, who turns 36 on Dec. 30, went 1-3 with 38 saves in 41 opportunities with Oakland last season. He made $4.5 million with the Athletics in 2013. He had a 2.59 ERA and 72 strikeouts, with 27 walks in 62 2-3 innings. In 2012, he had 24 saves in 26 chances. In 10 seasons with Minnesota, Milwaukee, Tampa Bay and the Athletics, Balfour is 28-17 with 72 saves and a 3.27 ERA. The addition of Balfour means the Orioles wont have to try Tommy Hunter or Darren ODay at closer. Both likely will be tried in a setup or situational role.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Manchester United Shirt . Canucks head coach John Tortorella announced Tuesday that both Henrik Sedin and Alex Burrows are listed as day-to-day and will not travel with the team to play the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday and Thursday night.
Chris Smalling Jersey . -- The Orlando Magic finally are showing the patience in critical moments that coach Jacque Vaughn has been waiting for all season.EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings will play without middle linebacker Erin Henderson this weekend, giving Audie Cole his first career start instead. Henderson has missed practice all week due to an unspecified personal matter, and coach Leslie Frazier on Friday ruled the teams leading tackler out of the game at Green Bay. Cole, a seventh-round draft pick last year, was cut for a few days earlier this month in favour of depth at another position and brought back for the last game at Seattle. So here he is, about to be in the starting lineup at Lambeau Field. "Pumped," Cole said, adding: "Im excited for my opportunity to get to go out and do what Ive been waiting for, for a year and a half now." Another starter, defensive end Brian Robison, was listed as questionable for Sunday because of a muscle spasm in his neck that prevented him from taking part in practice Friday. With Jared Allen and Everson Griffen, the Vikings have only two other defensive ends on the active roster. Defensive tackle Letroy Guion will be back after missing the last two weeks because of a chest injury, so at least theyll have a deeper rotation in the middle. The Vikings had better news on the other side of the ball. Running back Adrian Peterson returned to practice on a limited basis after sitting out the last two days to rest his sore groin. Hes listed as questionable, along with wide receiver Greg Jennings (Achilles) and centre John ;Sullivan (concussion), who also returned to practice on a limited basis.
Matteo Darmian Jersey. All three are expected to play. Jennings didnt play last week at Seattle. For Cole, patience paid off. He was told the plan prior to being released on Nov. 7, so Kevin Murphy could be elevated from the practice squad as insurance at offensive tackle with Phil Loadholt still recovering from a concussion for the game against Washington. Sure enough, two days later, Cole was back on the active roster. "Its still not cool. Its not what you want to happen," Cole said. "I understand why they did it. Someone had to go. I wish it wasnt me, but it was. Youve just got to take it. I came back, and things have been going good for me lately." His backup will be rookie Michael Mauti, a fellow seventh-round pick. Mauti had some swelling in his left knee, on which he had reconstructive surgery as a senior at Penn State. His third anterior cruciate ligament injury in a five-year span caused him to slip down the draft board. Mauti has excelled on special teams with 10 tackles, third most on the team. He shrugged off the suggestion that his recent minor injury was bad timing, given the opening created by Hendersons absence. He said hes sure hell get plenty of playing time. "You cant control what happens to you in a football game. I know that better than anybody," he said. "But Im not going to be limited Sunday, so thats really all that matters."
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