Kritik und Lob » but volunteered to pitch in relief in Clevela

Free agent Carlos Beltran has agreed to a one-year deal worth $16 million with the Houston Astros, a source told ESPNs Buster Olney on Saturday.The deal also includes a full no-trade clause, according to the source.The move adds to a busy offseason for the Astros, who have boosted their lineup by trading for Yankees catcher Brian McCann?and signing free-agent outfielder Josh Reddick.Houston missed the playoffs this year after winning the AL wild card in 2015.The switch-hitting Beltran, who turns 40 in April, was the top player in the deadline-selling Yankees lackluster offense this past season before being traded to the?Texas Rangers?on Aug. 1 for?right-hander Dillon Tate and two other pitching prospects.He led the Yankees with a .304 batting average, 22 homers and 64 RBIs, and he finished the year with 29 homers, 93 RBIs and 163 hits. He?split his time as a designated hitter and right fielder.The nine-time All-Star signed a $45 million, three-year contract before the 2014 season but played with an elbow bone spur during much of his first season in New York and got off to a slow start in 2015 following surgery.Beltran was traded from Kansas City to Houston in June 2004, and he hit a record-tying eight homers in 12 games during the NL playoffs while batting .435 with 14 RBIs.He also was traded from the New York Mets to San Francisco in July 2011. While he has appeared in the playoffs with the Astros, Mets, Cardinals, Yankees and Rangers, Beltran remains in search of his first World Series title.Beltran has a .281 career average with 414 home runs.Led by middle infielders Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa and ace Dallas Keuchel, the Astros ended a decade-long playoff drought -- and reversed a four-year span in which they averaged well over 100 losses -- by winning the AL wild card in 2015. Expected to be a championship contender this year, Houston instead went 84-78 and missed the playoffs.The Astros have been busy since then, signing Reddick to a $52 million, four-year deal after he finished the season with the Dodgers and getting McCann, a seven-time All-Star, in a trade with the Yankees. The Astros got $11 million from the Yankees to help cover the $34 million total hes set to make in the next two seasons.Along with his production on the field, Beltran has long been praised for his clubhouse influence and leadership, especially among young teammates. Beltran also runs an academy back home in Puerto Rico, where students focus on academics as well as athletics.The Associated Press contributed to this report. David Ross Jersey Large . Louis Blues absence from top spot in the TSN. Ryne Sandberg Jersey Large . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. http://www.customcubsjersey.com/custom-ron-santo-jersey-large-160n.html . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. Mark Grace Jersey Large . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. Custom Sammy Sosa Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. CLEVELAND -- Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was calm and confident heading into the bottom of the ninth inning.His mood -- and the game -- changed dramatically just minutes later.Closer Roberto Osuna allowed back-to-back home runs, including a game-ending inside-the-parker by Tyler Naquin, as the Cleveland Indians stunned Toronto 3-2 on Friday night.We were sitting pretty good. I felt good sending (Osuna) out there. We went from feeling pretty good to feeling rotten pretty quick. That was a tough one, Gibbons said.The Blue Jays lead in the AL East was sliced to one-half game over Boston, while the Indians increased their advantage in the AL Central to seven games over Detroit.Osuna (2-2) retired Carlos Santana to start the ninth before Jose Ramirez hit a tying homer. It was his third blown save in 30 opportunities this season.Naquin was down 1-2 in the count when he sent a drive high off the wall, just out of the reach of right fielder Michael Saunders. Center fielder Melvin Upton Jr. raced to pick up the ball, but fell before flinging it toward the infield.Second baseman Devon Travis retrieved it as Naquin was racing around third, but his throw was well late to the plate.Its really tough for the whole team, it really hurts, Osuna said. I tried to go with my best pitches, but I left the ball right in the middle of the plate and those guys hit me pretty good.Third baseman and AL MVP Josh Donaldson (jammed right thumb) and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (calf strain) sat out the game, but Gibbons said both are expected to be available Saturday.Russell Martin hit a two-run homer in the first, but Torontoo only got one runner into scoring position the rest of the way.dddddddddddd Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer struck out a career-high 13 in eight innings, while Jeff Manship (2-1) worked the ninth.Blue Jays left-hander Francisco Liriano allowed one unearned run in six innings while striking out seven. Travis second error of the evening and a passed ball by Martin allowed Cleveland to score once in the sixth.Liriano, who leads the majors with 75 walks, issued two and gave up four hits.I made some good pitches, and locating the ball worked for me today, said Liriano, who is 0-1 with a 3.57 ERA in three starts since being acquired from Pittsburgh. It was definitely the best Ive felt since I came here.The crowd of 30,665 included thousands of boisterous Blue Jays fans and Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James. The four-time MVP and reigning NBA champion watched the game from a suite.READY AND WILLINGBlue Jays RHP Marco Estrada will make his next start Wednesday, but volunteered to pitch in relief in Cleveland since he is scheduled to go seven days between outings. You could see him on Saturday or Sunday coming out of the bullpen, Gibbons said. It was his idea, but I told him it would only happen if we need him.UP NEXTBlue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez will start for the first time since Aug. 13 against Houston as the team attempts to limit his innings.Indians: RHP Josh Tomlin returns from the family medical emergency list. He had flown home to Tyler, Texas, on Wednesday. ' ' '