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Thursday's Tip Sheet

July 2, 2015

Rangers at Orioles – 7:05 PM EST

Baltimore snapped a two-game skid by beating Texas last night, 4-2 as the Orioles go for the four-game split with the Rangers in the finale. Texas exploded for eight runs in each of the first two victories in this series, but the Rangers couldn’t hold on to an early 2-0 lead in Wednesday’s loss as Jimmy Paredes and J.J. Hardy each homered for the Orioles to seize the advantage.

Kevin Gausman (1-0, 4.24 ERA) takes the mound for Baltimore, coming off several stints in the minors while making only his second start for the big club. Gausman tossed five innings in his only start for Baltimore back on June 20 in a 5-3 victory at Toronto, scattering four hits and two earned runs. Dating back to last season, the Orioles lost four of Gausman’s final five starts at Camden Yards, while facing the Rangers for the first time in his career.

Texas sends out veteran right-hander Yovani Gallardo (7-6, 2.72 ERA), who hasn’t allowed a run in each of his previous three outings. Gallardo came within two outs of a complete-game shutout at Toronto in his last start, tossing a three-hit gem against a talented Blue Jays’ lineup, while cashing as a +135 underdog. However, the Rangers own a 3-6 record in Gallardo’s nine starts away from Arlington this season, which includes a 4-1 ‘under’ mark in the last five road starts.

Red Sox at Blue Jays – 7:05 PM EST

Toronto bounced back nicely following consecutive losses to Boston as the Blue Jays pounded the Red Sox on Canada Day, 11-2. The Jays easily cashed as -135 favorites by jumping out to a 5-0 advantage after the first inning, while avoiding their first three-game losing streak since early June. The Red Sox were seeking their first four-game winning streak of the season, but Boston allowed at least 10 runs to Toronto for the third time in 2015.

Southpaw Matt Boyd (0-1, 5.40 ERA) makes his second career start for Toronto, coming off a shaky debut against Texas. Boyd allowed three home runs in a 4-0 defeat to the Rangers as a -150 favorite, but lasted nearly seven innings. The former Oregon State product faces a Red Sox lineup that has struggled against left-handed starting pitchers on the highway, posting an 0-6 record in their last six road games against southpaws.

Another left-hander toes the rubber for Boston, as Wade Miley (7-7, 4.38 ERA) goes for his third victory in his last four starts. Miley has allowed four earned runs in his previous three outings, which includes six scoreless innings in a 13-2 blowout of the Royals last month. Miley looks to avenge a 7-0 loss at Rogers Center back in May when he gave up four earned runs and eight hits in six innings of work, as the Red Sox are 0-4 in his last four road starts against AL East opponents.

Nationals at Braves – 7:10 PM EST

Washington is starting to pull away from the pack in the NL East race by winning nine of the last 11 games. However, the Braves tripped up the Nationals on Wednesday, 4-1 to cash as +125 home underdogs, beating Washington for the first time in the last 10 tries. Atlanta's offense scored more than two runs for just the second time in the last nine games, but the task will be difficult tonight in the series finale.

Max Scherzer (9-5, 1.79 ERA) finished off June in style, tossing a one-hitter at Milwaukee, a no-hitter against the Pirates, and allowing two hits in eight innings at Philadelphia. Somehow, Scherzer hasn’t faced the Braves yet this season, but Washington owns a perfect 6-0 record in his six starts as a road favorite, with five of those victories coming by at least two runs.

Manny Banuelos makes his Major League debut for the Braves, as the southpaw owned a solid 6-2 record and 2.29 ERA at Triple-A Gwinnett this season. The Nationals have compiled a 5-2 mark against left-handed starters on the road this season, but are facing a southpaw starter away from D.C. for the first time since May 27, when Scherzer and the Nats blanked the Cubs at Wrigley Field, 3-0.

Twins at Royals – 8:10 PM EST

Kansas City returns home following a rough finish to its nine-game road trip, getting swept at Houston in three games. The Royals went back-and-forth with the Astros in the finale last night, only to lose 6-5, as Kansas City squandered an early 3-0 lead. The Twins continue their road swing after losing two of three at Cincinnati, dropping six of their last eight interleague contests.

Minnesota is playing with plenty of revenge tonight, looking to pay back Kansas City after the Royals swept the Twins at Target Field last month. Kyle Gibson (5-6, 3.30 ERA) snapped a three-game skid in his past outing, beating the Brewers as a +125 road underdog, 5-2, allowing six hits and two earned runs in 6.2 innings of work. The right-hander has lost two of three starts to the Royals this season, with the lone victory coming as a home underdog back in April.

Chris Young (7-3, 2.71 ERA) attempts to snap a two-game home losing streak for the Royals, as the veteran right-hander allowed a total of 13 earned runs in losses to the Red Sox and Indians. Young is fresh off a road ‘dog victory at Oakland in his last start, while looking to beat the Twins for the second time this season after tossing 6.1 scoreless innings in a 2-0 triumph at Target Field last month.

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Warriors, Green agree to 5 yr/ $85M deal

July 1, 2015

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) No need to go through restricted free agency. Draymond Green is coming back to the Golden State Warriors on his own terms.

Green announced on Bleacher Report's Uninterrupted website Wednesday night he has agreed to a five-year deal with the Warriors. A person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press the contract is worth about $85 million.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because terms have not been disclosed. Yahoo Sports first reported the agreement.

Green was a restricted free agent, meaning the NBA champion Warriors could match any offer he received. But Golden State always expected to pay whatever salary he commanded, even if that meant dipping into the league's luxury tax, which it will almost surely do now.

It's a major pay raise for Green, who worked his way up from an overlooked second-round pick to the runner-up for NBA Defensive Player of the Year and a key member of the league's top-ranked defense. Green made $3.6 million total in his first three years in the league.

The Warriors count the versatile forward as a core part of their long-term future alongside MVP Stephen Curry and All-Star guard Klay Thompson. General manager Bob Myers and co-owner Joe Lacob called re-signing Green the team's top priority this offseason.

Now they can check it off their to-do list.

Green got his shot to start this past season after David Lee injured his left hamstring in the final preseason game. He took advantage of the opportunity, receiving more first-place votes for Defensive Player of the Year than winner Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs while playing both forward positions and center.

The 25-year-old Green averaged 11.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists during the regular season. In the playoffs, he averaged 13.7 points, 10.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists, including a triple-double in the Game 6 clincher against Cleveland in the NBA Finals.

The Warriors drafted Green 35th overall in 2012 after passing on the former Michigan State standout with their first two selections. He quickly emerged as an elite defender and has rapidly improved his 3-point shooting, going from 20.7 percent his first season to 33.7 percent this past season.

The 6-foot-7, 230-pound forward played bigger than his size, giving Golden State the defensive force it had been missing next to center Andrew Bogut. Green stretched the floor alongside Curry and Thompson, and those around him raved about intangibles that don't show up on stat sheets.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr repeatedly called Green the team's heartbeat and vocal leader throughout the championship run. Green came up huge in the biggest moments, too.

He helped Golden State win the NBA title for the first time since 1975 when he had 16 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and one block in the clinching win at Cleveland on June 16.

Green's signing means that Lee will likely be on the way out - if the Warriors can find a trade suitor - to limit the team's tax hit. Lee is owed $15.4 million next season in the final year of his deal.

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Love staying with Cavs for $110M

July 1, 2015

After all the speculation and intrigue surrounding Kevin Love's foray into the free agent market, the star power forward ended up right where he said he would all along - in Cleveland.

Love announced in The Players Tribune on Wednesday that after his uneven first season ended with a serious shoulder injury, he is coming back to help LeBron James finish what they started together last season.

''We're all on the same page and we're all in,'' Love wrote. ''We have unfinished business and now it's time to get back to work.''

Love agreed to terms on a maximum contract of five years that could be worth more than $110 million, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details have not been released. No NBA contract can be signed until July 9.

Love opted out of the final year of his existing contract to hit the open market, a financially motivated decision aimed at getting more security after suffering some significant injuries over the last few years.

The Lakers, Celtics and Suns were among the teams believed to be interested in Love, who was viewed by many across the league as gettable after he struggled at times to find his place with James and Kyrie Irving. He was spotted at a pool meeting with James and other teammates earlier this week, a meeting he alluded to in the piece he published on Wednesday.

''Yeah, of course I've heard the free agency rumors,'' Love wrote. ''But at the end of the day, and after meeting with my teammates (it turns out pools are great meeting places) and with the front office, it was clear Cleveland was the place for me.''

It wasn't always that clear during a rocky beginning.

After James chose to return to Cleveland last summer, he targeted Love as a running mate with the new-look Cavaliers. Cleveland sent the previous two No. 1 overall selections - Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett - to Minnesota in the three-team deal to bring Love in and form new power trio aimed at ending the city's 50-year championship drought.

But after being the face of the Timberwolves franchise for six seasons, Love had a difficult time in his new role as the third wheel in Cleveland. His averages of 17.5 points, 10.4 rebounds and 13.5 shots per game were all the lowest since he came off the bench as a rookie in Minnesota, and every tweet and quote between him and James was heavily scrutinized and dissected to try to decipher how the two All-Stars were getting along.

Love said all along that he just wanted to win, and the Cavs turned a worrisome 19-20 start into a blazing 34-9 finish to surge to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Just as Love was figuring out how best to play with James and Irving and his team entered the postseason for the first time in his seven-year career, it all came to an end.

Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk pulled Love's shoulder out of its socket during their tense first-round series, ending Love's season.

Irving was injured in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, and James carried the Cavaliers the rest of the way, a six-game loss to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. Watching from behind the bench made Love even more determined to return healthy and give James the help he needs.

''After Game 1 of the NBA Finals, that's when it really struck me,'' Love wrote. ''Sitting on the sidelines, I never wanted to play in a game more than that one. I had dreamed of playing in the NBA Finals and I just wanted to help my guys win. I couldn't have been prouder of them as they poured their blood, sweat and tears onto the court.''

Now that Love is back in the fold, the Cavaliers can turn their attention to Tristan Thompson, another free agent whom James wants to return.

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Hawks, Millsap agree on 3 years, $59M

July 1, 2015

ATLANTA (AP) A person with knowledge of the deal says the Atlanta Hawks have reached an agreement to re-sign free agent power forward Paul Millsap.

The person says the agreement is for a two-year deal with a player option for a third year that makes the contract worth $58.9 million. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the deal can't be finalized until July 9.

Re-signing Millsap, an All-Star in each of his two years with the Hawks, was an offseason priority that gained added importance after another key starter, forward DeMarre Carroll, agreed to a deal with Toronto.

Millsap averaged 16.7 points and 7.8 rebounds as the Hawks advanced to the Eastern Conference finals.

Millsap also had strong interest from Orlando, according to reports.

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Pierce, Clippers agree to 3-year deal

July 1, 2015

Paul Pierce and Doc Rivers are reuniting.

A person with knowledge of the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Pierce has agreed to a three-year, $10 million deal to join the Los Angeles Clippers. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday because no contracts can be finalized until July 9.

Pierce spent this past season with the Washington Wizards, and they wanted him back for a second year. But the lure of going back to Southern California - he went to high school in a Los Angeles suburb - and playing for Rivers again was apparently too strong to ignore.

Next season will be Pierce's 18th, the first 15 with Boston. Rivers coached him for nine of those Boston seasons, and they helped the Celtics win the 2008 NBA title.

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Cavs keep Shumpert for $40M, 4 years

July 1, 2015

A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that Iman Shumpert has agreed to terms on a four-year, $40 million contract that will keep him in Cleveland.

Shumpert and the Cavaliers came to agreement on Wednesday evening. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced. A contract cannot be signed until July 9.

Shumpert came to the Cavaliers with J.R. Smith in a trade midseason with the New York Knicks. Shumpert's perimeter defense helped LeBron James take an injury plagued team to the NBA Finals.

Shumpert averaged 7.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 38 games with the Cavaliers in the regular season.

Shumpert's signing comes after the Cavs gave Kevin Love a five-year, $110 million deal and Tristan Thompson a five-year, $80 million contract.

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Spurs keep Green for $45M over 4 years

July 1, 2015

When the San Antonio Spurs turned their eyes toward prized free agent LaMarcus Aldridge, it seemed to be a signal Danny Green might have to leave the franchise that helped turn him into one of the best two-way shooting guards in the league.

Not so fast.

One of the top shooters and perimeter defenders on the market has agreed to terms with the Spurs on a four-year contract worth $45 million, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been officially announced. Per league rules, it cannot be signed until July 9.

''Looks like I'm back for four more years SA!!!'' Green tweeted.

Green was one of the most coveted perimeter players on the market, with suitors lining up to try to land him. He may have taken a little less money to remain in San Antonio, but he couldn't turn his back on the team that helped him grow from a thrice-cut nobody barely hanging on to a pro career into a sharp-shooting mainstay for the league's model franchise.

Minutes after free agency opened at midnight Eastern on Wednesday, the Spurs locked up Kawhi Leonard with a five-year, $90 million max extension, then turned their attention to Aldridge, one of the biggest stars on the free-agent market.

While GM R.C. Buford, coach Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan and Leonard were preparing to meet face-to-face with Aldridge, they worked quickly to keep Green, who averaged 11.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and shot 41.8 percent from 3-point range for the Spurs last season.

''Now all we need is the one last piece and it could get interesting,'' Green tweeted in a recruiting pitch to Aldridge. ''Lol ... (at)aldridge12.''

Green was a second-round draft pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2009, but the former North Carolina Tar Heel struggled mightily to find his footing early in his career.

Green was waived by Cleveland before his second season and picked up by the Spurs. He lasted less than a week, but was brought back for the final month of the season before the NBA lockout left him without a team that summer. Green went overseas to play in Slovenia and labored through NBA Development League stints with Reno before getting another shot with the Spurs.

''Some days you wake up and don't realize where you're at and you go, `What the hell am I doing here?''' Green said during the NBA Finals in 2013. ''That happened in a couple of cities, places. Reno, some places overseas.''

Popovich and Tar Heels coach Roy Williams harped on him constantly to refine his game. He worked tirelessly with Spurs player development specialist Chad Forcier to improve his shooting form, and it all paid off.

Green became a starter on the team that went to back-to-back finals and captured the organization's fifth championship when they beat LeBron James and Miami in 2014.

''I've seen the talent he had,'' James said during the finals in 2013. ''He showed the talent when he was in North Carolina. Once he got to Pop, Pop gave him confidence. You get the opportunity, you go out and make the most of it.''

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Bulls, Butler reach 5-year, $90M deal

July 1, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) Jimmy Butler bet on himself and won big.

Butler agreed to terms Wednesday on a five-year maximum contract that could be worth $90 million and includes a player option for the final year, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized. The total value of the contract could wind up being a little higher depending on the salary cap figure for next season, which will be set on July 9.

The deal comes on the heels of a breakout season in which Butler made his first All-Star team and was selected the NBA's Most Improved Player. He averaged 20 points after he and the Bulls were unable to agree to a contract extension last fall.

The Bulls also agreed to terms with Mike Dunleavy on a three-year, $14 million deal, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations. The person also spoke on condition of anonymity because no contracts can be signed until July 9.

Butler posted a photo of downtown Chicago on his Twitter account with the words, ''windy city skyline ... aka home.''

It's been a remarkable rise for Butler, who was kicked out of his house by his mother at age 13, started his college career at Tyler Junior College and was the last pick in the first round out of Marquette in 2011. He quickly became indispensable for the Bulls and his tireless work ethic endeared him to hard-nosed coach Tom Thibodeau.

Thibodeau is gone now, replaced by Fred Hoiberg. But Butler and Derrick Rose will be back in what should be a dynamic backcourt for the Bulls.

Butler turned down a four-year, $44 million offer from the Bulls before last season. At the time he said he was betting on himself, willing to play last year for just under $3.2 million to earn the right to become a restricted free agent.

It turned out to be a wise decision. Butler solidified himself as perhaps the best two-way shooting guard in the league, averaging career highs in points (20.0), rebounds (5.8), field goal percentage (46.2), 3-point percentage (37.8) and minutes (38.7).

The breakout season earned Butler almost $50 million more with his new contract than the one he would have signed last year. And even though he entered restricted free agency and garnered interest from the Lakers and other teams, Butler made it clear all along where his heart was.

''I think this is a place for me,'' Butler said after he was given the Most Improved Player award. ''I love playing with the guys we have. They continue to bring in great, high-character guys that fit the team role. I love it here.''

Dunleavy is back as well, meaning most of the key players return from the team that took the Cleveland Cavaliers to six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Dunleavy was expected to get interest from several other clubs, including Cleveland.

He turns 35 in September, and averaged 9.4 points in 63 games and shot 41 percent from 3-point range last season. In the playoffs, he averaged 10.9 points and shot 48 percent from beyond the arc. The No. 3 pick in the 2002 draft has averaged 11.7 points in 902 career games.

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Sharks sign D Martin for 4 years

July 1, 2015

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2003, the San Jose Sharks went into the offseason with a clear focus on becoming tougher defensively.

A day after acquiring Martin Jones to be their new starting goaltender, the Sharks opened free agency Wednesday by finding the veteran defenseman they sought when they signed Paul Martin to a $19.4 million, four-year contract.

''We feel good we got these two pieces off our checklist,'' general manager Doug Wilson said. ''Now it allows us to look at some other things and explore. But we don't feel like there's any rush. These two pieces needed to be addressed. They have been and we'll go forward from here.''

The Sharks' main priority after missing the playoffs had been improving a defense that allowed the most goals per game for the franchise in nine years.

With those holes addressed, the Sharks hope they have enough talent up front with Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau to be a contender once again.

''For me I wanted the most important thing is to win,'' Martin said. ''I haven't won a Cup yet. That was at the top of the list. Besides last year missing the playoffs, San Jose was one of the teams at the top of my list as far as being able to win. They've proven that they can win.''

The 34-year-old Martin had spent the past five seasons in Pittsburgh. He is strong in the defensive zone and is a good puck mover. He had three goals and 17 assists in 74 games last season. He had only 20 penalty minutes and skated an average of 22:47 per game.

New coach Peter DeBoer sees Martin as a good defense partner for offensive-minded Brent Burns after seeing how well Burns played at the world championships with the steady Dan Hamhuis.

''I thought it really supported and helped Burnsie with his game,'' said DeBoer, who was an assistant coach on Team Canada. ''I see Paul Martin being able to slide in there and have that same effect.''

Martin also is a strong penalty killer who will be counted on to help fix a unit that finished 25th in the league last year after killing 78.5 percent of short-handed opportunities.

Martin spent his first six seasons with New Jersey and has 43 goals and 229 assists in 697 career games.

''I'm pretty flexible as far as being able to play in pretty much any circumstance,'' Martin said. ''I enjoy the challenge of minutes and shutting down top lines. That's kind of been a lot of what my career has been so far.''

San Jose now has veterans Martin, Burns, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Justin Braun and Brenden Dillon all locked up for at least the next two seasons. With 20-year-old Mirco Mueller also in the fold, the Sharks hope they will have a strong defensive core to help the team get back to the playoffs after a disappointing 2014-15 season.

Wilson still would like to add depth up front and possibly another defenseman but has filled two of his most important holes with Martin and Jones.

''He's just methodically knocking things off the checklist,'' DeBoer said. ''He's doing exactly what he said we'd do. I really like the direction we're going. It just fits with the attitude that I got with the players when I talked to them after the season. They're ready to bounce back and bounce back in a big way.''

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Pens acquire Kessel from Leafs

July 1, 2015

PITTSBURGH (AP) Phil Kessel spent six seasons toiling in relative anonymity in Toronto, one of the best players on a franchise that has struggled to find its footing.

Now the three-time All-Star will get a chance to work alongside two of the best players in the world.

The Maple Leafs sent the 27-year-old Kessel to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday in a blockbuster deal that gives the Penguins a needed boost in its top six and gives the Maple Leafs some flexibility as they begin to retool under new coach Mike Babcock.

The Penguins sent forward prospect Kasperi Kapanen, forward Nick Spaling, defenseman Scott Harrington and a 2016 third-round pick to the Maple Leafs for Kessel, forward Tyler Briggs and defenseman Tim Erixon. Conditional draft picks are also involved.

Pittsburgh began the first day of NHL free agency by sending away a part of its future for a veteran it hopes will have no trouble fitting in while playing with former MVPs Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Kessel has 247 goals and 273 assists in nine seasons between Boston and Toronto, including 25 goals and 36 assists for the Maple Leafs in 2014-15.

His presence will provide Crosby and Malkin with a capable scorer still in his prime. Injuries devastated Pittsburgh's depth last season. The Penguins struggled to score goals for long stretches and fell to the New York Rangers in five games in the opening round of the playoffs.

Pittsburgh believes forward Pascal Dupuis will be back in 2015-16 after missing most of last season with blood clots in his lungs. While Dupuis has proven effective when teamed with Crosby, Kessel's arrival gives Crosby a proven finisher. Kessel is also one of the more durable players in the league. He hasn't missed a game in five seasons.

The Penguins also signed Russian forward Sergei Plotnikov on Wednesday. The 25-year-old forward agreed to a one-year deal. Plotnikov had 15 goals and 21 assists for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL last season.

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Coyotes bring back C Vermette, sign 3

July 1, 2015

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) The Arizona Coyotes signed forwards Brad Richardson and Steve Downie, added goalie Anders Lindback and brought back defenseman Zbynek Michalek.

That's forward depth, a backup goalie and some blue line stability within a few hours of the free agency period. Later on Wednesday, they also brought back Antoine Vermette, the popular centerman who just won a Stanley Cup with Chicago.

Now that the shopping spree is over, it's time for the Coyotes to add a big-ticket player or two.

''This is the warm-up act for what we need to do,'' Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said on Wednesday. ''We need to add some skill.''

The skill will likely come via a trade with a thin market of skill players available in free agency.

Coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history, the Coyotes had plenty of holes to fill after veering in a youthful direction at last season's trade deadline.

Arizona has some talented young players, some of whom appear to be ready for bigger roles. To help them along the way, the Coyotes were hoping to add some depth and veteran leadership in an effort to make it a short turnaround back to respectability.

Arizona took a solid first step on Tuesday, trading Lauri Korpikoski to Edmonton for Boyd Gordon, a steady veteran forward whose forte is killing penalties, winning faceoffs and the kind of two-way game that fits into coach Dave Tippett's system.

Once the free agency period began Wednesday morning, the Coyotes were active from the get-go, firing off a series of signings that added depth and grit to the team.

''We have a good base in place now,'' Maloney said. ''I feel a lot better about our team today than I did two days ago.''

Vermette was one of Arizona's most popular players for fans and teammates alike during four seasons in the desert. The Coyotes traded him at the deadline last season, though, and he went on to be a key contributor to the Blackhawks' third title in six seasons.

Vermette became a free agent after the season and didn't take long in re-joining the Coyotes, signing a two-year, $7.5 million contract to return to a place he never really wanted to leave.

Richardson has scored 62 goals with 87 assists in 10 NHL seasons with stops in Vancouver, Los Angeles and Colorado. The 30-year-old had eight goals and 13 assists with the Canucks last season, when he was limited to 45 games due to an ankle injury.

Richardson, who signed a three-year deal, won a Stanley Cup title with the Kings in 2012 and, like Gordon, fits into Tippett's system.

Michalek didn't really want to leave the desert after ending up with the Coyotes a second time, but was traded to St. Louis in a deadline deal last season as Arizona shifted into its youth movement. He was eager to rejoin the Coyotes and signed a two-year deal, giving them a steady, stay-at-home defenseman and popular player in the locker room.

''I never wanted to get traded, but it was the best thing for the team and I understood,'' Michalek said. ''I was hoping to come back.''

Downie is a bruising player who has a little scoring punch to go with his fists. He's amassed 1,004 penalty minutes in 408 NHL games, though he has 73 goals and 117 assists.

The 28-year-old has played for five teams in eight NHL seasons, most recently with Pittsburgh, where he had 14 goals and 14 assists last season.

Maloney said Downie's primary role will be to protect Arizona's cache of young skill players.

Lindback gives the Coyotes a veteran backup to Mike Smith.

The 27-year-old is 16-13-2 with a 2.53 goals-against average during a five-year NHL career that includes stops at Nashville, Tampa Bay, Dallas and Buffalo.

''I like where we're at,'' Maloney said. ''We've solidified our blue line and strengthened our lower lines.''

Now they can focus on adding the big piece they've been missing.

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Red Wings sign D Green, F Richards

July 1, 2015

DETROIT (AP) The Detroit Red Wings have signed defenseman Mike Green and forward Brad Richards to free-agent contracts.

The team announced Wednesday that Green will get a three-year contract and Richards a one-year deal.

Green has spent his entire career with Washington, recording 113 goals and 247 assists in 575 games. He is the second-highest scoring defenseman in the NHL over the past eight seasons and will be counted on to quarterback Detroit's power play. Green had 10 goals and 35 assists last season with the Capitals.

Richards comes over from Chicago after winning his second career Stanley Cup. The 35-year-old had 12 goals and 25 assists in 76 games for the Blackhawks last season. He added three goals and 11 assists in the playoffs.

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Oilers ink Sekera for 6 years, Letestu 3

July 1, 2015

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) The Edmonton Oilers have continued their offseason makeover, signing defenseman Andrej Sekera and center Mark Letestu on Wednesday.

Sekera's deal is worth $33 million over six years, and Letestu will reportedly earn $5.4 million over three years.

Sekera had three goals and 20 assists over 73 games with Carolina and Los Angeles last season.

The native of Bojnice, Slovakia, has 31 goals and 128 assists in 486 games with Buffalo, Carolina and Los Angeles.

Letestu had seven goals and six assists in 54 games with the Blue Jackets last season.

Letestu has 58 goals and 69 assists in 318 games with Pittsburgh and Columbus

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Wild re-sign C Granlund to 2-year deal

July 1, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Wild finished a drawn-out negotiation with Mikael Granlund by locking up the center with a two-year deal on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old Granlund had eight goals and 31 assists last season. He ranked third on the team in plus-minus rating with a plus-17 and the team hopes he continues his path to becoming one of the team's top playmakers. The Star Tribune of Minneapolis reported that it's worth $6 million.

The shorter deal was a way for the two sides to stay together while gaining a better idea of Granlund's long-term potential.

He was hailed as a future star when he came over from Finland three seasons ago and looked poised to make a leap after an impressive playoff performance in 2014 and a dazzling role with Team Finland at the Sochi Olympics.

But Granlund didn't quite make the leap that was expected of him last season, leading to a lot of back-and-forth between Wild GM Chuck Fletcher and Granlund's agent, Todd Diamond.

In the end, the two sides were able to come to an agreement on a bridge deal to keep him in Minnesota. Granlund has played three seasons with the Wild since coming over from Finland. He has 88 points and has scored six goals in 13 playoff games.

The Wild also announced two-year deals with defensemen Nate Prosser and Mike Reilly and a one-year deal with forward Ryan Carter.

The 29-year-old Prosser, who grew up in the Minneapolis suburb of Elk River, had two goals and five assists in a career-high 63 games last season for the Wild.

Reilly had six goals and 36 assists in 39 games as a junior for the University of Minnesota last season. He grew up in the Minneapolis suburb of Chanhassen.

Carter had three goals and 10 assists in 53 games for the Wild.

[StarDust Bum]

Huge underdogs proving to cost more than they are worth

On June 27 in South Florida against a woefully underperforming Marlins organization that had already parted ways with one manager so far this season, three-time Cy Young award winner and reigning National League MVP Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers took the field as astronomical -280 favorites against little-known 29-year-old righty Tom Koehler, who currently owns a career Major League record of 21-25.

Two hours, 26 minutes and two costly errors later, Los Angeles exited the stadium with a 3-2 defeat on its resume that currently stands as one of the biggest upsets of the 2015 season despite the fact that Kershaw surrendered just one earned run in seven solid innings of work. Those who rolled the dice on Miami that evening enjoyed a significant financial windfall while those who laid the monstrous price on the N.L. West-leading favorites suffered a serious hit to their collective bankrolls.

Backing the long shot in a seemingly one-sided baseball game—or any sport for that matter—is not a novel concept, as some gamblers relish the notion of risking a little in order to win a lot. Look no further than the Kentucky Derby, The Masters and Floyd Mayweather fights for proof of this notion. Some bettors thrive on taking a small, insignificant risk for a shot at a jackpot-like score.

But the big question here as it specifically pertains to baseball betting is whether or not such a strategy can serve as a viable, long-term approach to profitable wagering.

The answer, as I’m sure many of you could imagine, is a resounding no.

I floated this theory by my good friend Paul Bessire of the website PredictionMachine.com for some feedback as to how the 2015 Major League baseball campaign has treated bettors who routinely find themselves on the long shot side of a matchup that features a heavy favorite with the simple mission of determining whether or not there were enough significant underdog victories to turn a profit after offsetting the losses sustained when the favorites came through.

Here are the results for the 2015 season through Tuesday night’s games:

MLB underdogs from +160 to +169 (based on a $100 bettor)

Overall: 35-67 (34.3% SU), -$850
Home: 6-11 (35.3% SU), -$150
Road: 29-56 (34.1% SU), -$700

MLB underdogs from +170 to +179 (based on a $100 bettor)

Overall: 18-49 (26.9% SU), -$1,700
Home: 5-8 (38.5% SU), +$100
Road: 13-41 (24.1% SU), -$1,800

MLB underdogs from +180 and upward (based on a $100 bettor)

Overall: 10-29 (25.6% SU), -$1,075
Home: 3-5 (37.5% SU), +$50
Road: 7-24 (22.6% SU), -$1,125

As you can tell from the above information, blindly backing MLB underdogs of +160 or higher has produced disastrous results for gamblers during the 2015 season. Essentially, for every time a relative unknown like Tom Koehler upsets a future Hall of Famer like Clayton Kershaw, there are 2.2 matchups where the heavy favorite seals the deal. This type of strategy isn’t just a losing proposition, but it’s a bankroll-decimating approach capable of busting bettors prior to the July All-Star break.

However, it’s imperative to note at this point that we aren’t advocating the opposite approach to this strategy, which involves blindly betting on heavy favorites who face an opponent lined at +160 or higher. Trust us when we say that if gambling were that easy, all the casinos in Las Vegas would cease to exist.

Look no further than the Los Angeles Dodgers for proof, as Kershaw has lost each of his last two starts (-280 and -180) while fellow ace Zack Grienke was defeated at Miami on June 28 as a -215 favorite.

The lesson, as always, is that gamblers have to put in the requisite amount of time and research while looking to isolate the most favorable of spots when it comes to the Major League Baseball calendar. Rarely does a tell-all trend emerge that provides an opportunity to sprint to the counter while blindly following the logic.

And even when such a trend does rear its profitable little head, you can surely bet the bookmakers will be hot on its tail.