Zigeunerzelt » for a younger pitcher

VIERA, Fla. - The Washington Nationals filled the last clear-cut need on their roster on the opening day of spring training, acquiring catcher Jose Lobaton and two prospects from the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday for pitcher Nathan Karns. Lobaton gives the Nationals insurance behind fellow Venezuelan Wilson Ramos, who has never played in more than 108 games in a season because of various injuries. "Hes a capable backup," general manager Mike Rizzo said, "in case something does happen with Wilson." Lobaton, 29, started 76 games for the Rays last season and batted .249 with seven home runs and 32 RBIs. He was expendable because the Rays re-signed catcher Jose Molina and traded for Ryan Hanigan. Rizzo said Lobaton has above average metrics on defence. A notable exception is a 16 per cent success rate throwing out would-be base-stealers. "We feel that he throws well enough that he should be better than 16 per cent," Rizzo said. It speaks volumes about the Nationals confidence in their talent-laden roster that a move for a backup can fill the last significant hole on the day that pitchers and catchers reported. Barring injury, Rizzo wont be shopping during spring training. "Theres not an obvious spot that we need to address," Rizzo said. "But, as we say, if an opportunity arises, well be aggressive and open-minded about it." The Nationals are giving up a top prospect in the 26-year-old right-hander Karns, who three made starts in his first taste of the major leagues last season, but theyre adding a pair of 22-year-olds from the Jays pool of talent: outfielder Drew Vettleson and left-handed pitcher Felipe Rivero. Karns would have been in a crowded race for the No. 5 spot in the rotation. The trade for a younger pitcher alleviates part of that logjam and helps the Nationals stagger their pitching prospects. To make room for the new players on the 40-man roster, Washington placed right-handed pitcher Erik Davis on the 60-day disabled list with a sprained right elbow. Air Max 90 Nz Wholesale . Viewers in the Jets region can watch the game on TSN Jets at 6:30pm ct/7:30pm et. The game is also avialable on TSN Radio 1290 in Winnipeg at 7pm ct. Cheap Air Max 90 Nz Online .ca presents a week long look at some of the teams and stories that will shape the up coming campaign. http://www.cheapairmax90nz.com/ . -- Zach Johnson is like most players at the World Challenge, not sure whether hes still playing in 2013 or if hes in the middle of the new wraparound season that officially started in October. Cheap Air Max 90 Nz Sale . INJURIES - Cardinals 1B Matt Adams has been put on the DL with calf tightness, resulting in some lineup shifting, with Allen Craig moving from right field to first base, so that the Cardinals could bring up top prospect Oscar Taveras, who was the No. Cheap Air Max 90 Nz Free Shipping . -- Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana agreed Tuesday to a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles as he tries to come back from the second major operation on his left shoulder.Flushing Meadows, NY - Roger Federer reached his 10th U.S. Open quarterfinal in 11 years with a straight-set victory over Roberto Bautista Agut during Tuesdays action at the years final Grand Slam tournament. The second-seeded Federer wasnt severely tested by the 17th-seeded Bautista Agut on a steamy night in New York City, with the Swiss legend posting a 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 win to keep alive his quest for a sixth U.S. Open title. Federer, who had a string of nine straight quarterfinal appearances in Flushing snapped by Tommy Robredo last year, is now 71-9 all-time in U.S. Open play. The 17-time Grand Slam winner awaits a matchup with No. 20 seed Gael Monfils after the flashy Frenchman handed seventh-seeded Grigor Dimitrov a 7-5, 7-6 (8-6), 7-5 loss at Ashe Stadium earlier in the day. Dimitrov, a Wimbledon semifinalist this year who dates womens superstar Maria Sharapova, struggled mightily with his serve and backhand on Day 9 and succumbed to Monfils in 2 hours, 24 minutes. The ultra-athletic Monfils, who turned 28 on Monday and has yet to drop a set at this fortnight, popped 14 aces and was broken only once by his Bulgarian counterpart. The match of the day belonged to 14th-seeded Croat Marin Cilic and 26th-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon, with the two engaging in aa four-hour, 13-minute slugfest in which Cilic narrowly prevailed.dddddddddddd Cilic won a key tiebreaker in the second set and scored a key late break in the fifth to outlast Simon by a 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 count. Simon had taken all four previous meetings with Cilic, including a five-set win at this years Aussie Open. Sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych had a far easier time in his fourth-round match, needing just 98 minutes to dispose of Dominic Thiem 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 and set up a quarterfinals clash with Cilic. The mens quarterfinals will commence Wednesday, with world No. 1 Novak Djokovic taking on eighth-seeded Andy Murray and third-seeded Aussie Open champ Stan Wawrinka battling 10th-seeded Kei Nishikori. The Serbian Djokovic and British Murray will meet for a 21st time at the ATP level, with the Serb leading the all-time series, 12-8. Djokovic is 3-2 in their Grand Slam meetings, but Murray is 1-0 versus Djokovic at the U.S. Open, including a win in the final here two years ago. The reigning Wimbledon champion and seven-time major titlist Djokovic captured his lone U.S. Open title in 2011 and is a four-time runner- up in Flushing, including last year against Rafael Nadal. The Serbian star has appeared in the last four finals in New York. China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Online Stitched Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Outlet College Jerseys For Sale Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys For Sale Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '