Begrüßungen » made it 100 per cent certain yet. He works on

CLEVELAND -- Only hours before this seasons home opener, the Indians guaranteed Jason Kipnis will be around for more than a few more. The All-Star second baseman agreed to a $52.5 million, six-year contract on Friday, binding him to the Indians through the 2019 season. The deal includes a club option for 2020. Kipnis signed the contract one day after turning 27, giving him a birthday gift of wealth and security hell never forget. "Its an amazing feeling to get something done," said Kipnis. "I wanted to stay here. Im excited about being here." Kipnis is the latest core player to be signed to a long-term deal by the Indians, who reached agreements with outfielder Michael Brantley (4 years, $25 million) and catcher Yan Gomes (6 years, $23 million) in the past two months. "Its the ownership, the top, showing us that they believe in us, that weve got the guys who can win games now and we want them stick around," Kipnis said. "Im excited about be a part of that." Kipnis had already signed a one-year deal worth $554,900 in the major leagues and $305,700 in the minors. The new deal calls for a $1 million signing bonus and salaries of $2 million this year, $4 million in 2015, $6 million in 2016, $9 million in 2017, $13.5 million in 2018 and $14.5 million in 2019. The Indians option for 2020 is at $16.5 million with a $2.5 million buyout. He gets a hotel suite on road trips. And he would get a $500,000 payment if hes traded. Kipnis agreement covers this season, all three of his arbitration-eligible years and extends through at least the first two seasons after he could have become a free agent. The Indians and Kipnis agents had been negotiating a deal for months. "This was our third attempt at it, so its good to finally be able to get it done," general manager Chris Antonetti said . "Its a complicated thing. You have to figure out what the right value is, what the appropriate way is to share risk, and this was the time we were able to do it." Kipnis developed into one of the ALs rising stars last season, batting .284 with 17 homers and 84 RBIs in 149 games. He also stole 30 bases, scored 86 runs and led the Indians in runs, hits, RBIs and steals. Kipnis has endeared himself to the Indians, manager Terry Francona and Cleveland fans with his hustling, win-at-all-costs playing style. That grit on display Wednesday night in the ninth inning in Oakland, when after twice failing to move two runners over with a bunt, Kipnis beat out a fielders choice, stole second and scored the go-ahead run as the Indians rallied for a 6-4 win in the second game of a doubleheader. "That was Kip in a bottle," Francona said. "Thats the way Kip plays. Youd see a lot of guys maybe not get the bunt down, strike out, get mad because we asked him to bunt and we lose." After going 92-70 last season and making the AL playoffs for the first time since 2007, the Indians have shown a strong commitment to winning -- now. That hasnt always been the case in Cleveland, where fans have seen the front office trade star pitchers CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee before they could leave as free agents. These new deals, coming a year after the Indians signed free agents Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn to multiyear contracts, are a signal the club intends to compete for a championship. "Its so awesome," Swisher said. "This is not a one-and-done organization anymore. The moves that were making are all the right moves." The signings, too, have changed outside perception of the Indians, who havent won a World Series title since 1948. "When I was on other teams in coming to Cleveland, if you didnt sweep, it was a bad road trip," said Swisher, who previously played with the Yankees, Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics. "For us now, people are realizing that when you come in here, were going to fight for it. I think last years record speaks for itself, but that wasnt our goal, to go out and have one great, amazing season and then just fall off. Everything is going in the right direction." Cheap NMD R2 Trainers . Next up, the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cleveland Browns in the AFC North. Baltimore Ravens In 2014, the 8-8 season that the Baltimore Ravens experienced was to be expected. Adidas Nmd Chukka Outlet .com) - Brad Stuart has yet to play a regular-season game for the Colorado Avalanche, but that didnt deter the club from signing the veteran defenseman to a two-year contract extension on Monday. http://www.nmdukonlinestore.com/ultra-boost-trainers-outlet-deals.html . The judge sternly instructed the prosecutor to restrain himself and he apologized -- then went right back to trying to pick holes in the testimony of the double-amputee runner. It was a harsh day of cross-examination for Pistorius, challenged relentlessly about his account of the moments just before he killed Reeva Steenkamp, as well as circumstances related to several firearms charges against him, including the firing of a gun in a crowded restaurant. Adidas NMD R2 Outlet . Vincent Lamar Carter is no longer the lean, athletic dynamo who dazzled Raptors fans with eye-popping dunks that posterized even the leagues best defenders. Ultra Boost Trainers Uk . So what happens? Stevenson lands a huge left to Dawsons temple only 76 seconds into the opening round and walks away with the championship belt. "I said Id knock him out," said Stevenson (21-1).With the NHL Draft coming up on June 27 and free agency opening on July 1, discussions between NHL general managers are heating up towards a busy off-season. Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. Defensive Depth TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun is reporting the Toronto Maple Leafs have considerable interest in unrestricted free-agent defenceman Dan Boyle. LeBrun says one source believes Torontos interest is "serious." The Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers are also interested in the services of the 37-year-old. LeBrun says the New York Islanders still remain an option with the Montreal Canadiens likely out of the running after re-signing Andrei Markov. TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported on the following issues: Patience is a Virtue Minnesota Wild forward Dany Heatley and former Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Malone may have to be patient in free agency according to Dreger. Dreger says their willingness to take one-year contracts will draw attention from more teams. The Lightning used their second compliance buyout on Malone on Wednesday while Heatley will become an unrestricted free-agent on July 1. Draft Talk Conversation regarding the Florida Panthers first overall pick should heat up Thursday ahead of Fridays NHL Entry Draft. If offers for the top pick dont improve, Florida intends to hold on to it. Canucks Complex Dealings The Vancouver Canucks are still trying to trade Ryan Kesler but this is a complicated negotiation. Its believed Kesler has identified just two teams in the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks. That puts rookie general manager Jim Benning and the management of the Canucks in a tough spot because theyre just negiotioation with the two teams. Maybe its possible that the Canucks try to pull in their horns in an effort to encourage Kelser to expand his list. Blackhawks Hope to Keep the Band Together GM Stan Bowman and the Chicago Blackhawks are very eager to make sure the star component remains intact for a lengthy period of time. Were talking about how the new CBA is going to impact the superstar model of player and certainly Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toewws qualify as such.dddddddddddd No longer is it allowed to frontload and go with that 10, 12 or 15-year mega-deal. Now we know its a maximum of eight years so its not inconceivable that, as long as the salary cap climbs to around $75 million in 2016 that Kane and Toews could come in around $11-12 million each. Iginla and Alfredsson Drawn Together Jarome Iginla and Daniel Alfredsson could have an impact on each others future, depending on whether they both get what they want, which is to sign where they played last year. Iginla wants to stay with the Boston Bruins and theres talk theyre negotiating on both a two-year deal and perhaps a one-year deal maybe very similar to the contract he signed with the Bruins last year with a cap hit of $1.8 million with a bonus structure that deeply impacted the Bruins. If they cant get a deal done in Boston, then the Detroit Red Wings are among the teams that are keenly interested in Iginla as well. The Red Wings also have interest in Alfredsson, who is believed to be coming back but he hasnt made it 100 per cent certain yet. He works on his own timeframe, similar to Teemu Selanne but Im also told hes willing to be flexible. ----------------------------------------- Shopping Around Despite a good conversation between the team and his agent, Paul Stastny plans to test the free-agent market before making a decision on his future. Adrian Dater of the Denver Post spoke with Avalanche executive vice president of hockey operations Joe Sakic, who said Stastny wants to field offers before seeing if his current team will match the amounts. Dater also reports Sakic saying that he isnt put off by Stastnys plan to field offers because hes earned the right to be in that position. Vinny On The Move? Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Flyers general manager Ron Hextall might be willing to move veteran forward Vincent Lecavalier if he agrees to waive his no-trade clause. In the report, Hextall is quoted as saying hes spoken to Lecavaliers agent but would not elaborate further. Carchidis story also talks about Flyers draft prospects and the players they are looking at selecting in the upcoming NHL Draft. ' ' '