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BOSTON – This trade wont knock your socks off, but its the type of deal that fits the cash-strapped Blue Jays mold at the moment. Daniel Alfredsson Jersey . Just prior to Monday nights series opener against the Red Sox at Fenway, general manager Alex Anthopoulos acquired infielder Danny Valencia from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for pitcher Liam Hendriks and catcher Erik Kratz. The move works for both clubs, which makes it a good trade. “We definitely have a lot of left-handed bats on the roster right now and we certainly could use some help from the right side,” said Anthopoulos. “Weve actually inquired about him in the past; just havent been able to get anything done. Weve been really trying to find [a similar player] all year and also weve definitely given guys some opportunities from the minor leagues looking for that right-handed bat and the fact that hes had success at the big league level doing that and doing it well, its a good fit for us.” Valencia, who turns 30 on September 19, is a right-handed hitting infielder who predominantly plays third base. He has a career .879 on-base plus slugging percentage against left-handed pitching with 14 home runs. Thats in 498 plate appearances, a large enough sample size to state with certainty that Valencia is an immediate enhancement to the line-up. Hell help to cover for the remainder of Brett Lawries absence. Lawries out with a fractured right index finger and, given that second base isnt completely foreign to Valencia, he could see time there when Lawrie returns. With 21 career home runs and a .620 OPS against right-handed pitching, Valencia isnt totally a lost cause, but would be better suited to a platoon situation. Anthopoulos cautioned not to read too much into how the acquisition of Valencia could affect Lawrie and where hell play. Lawrie wants to play third base, but didnt complain when he was asked to assume a platoon role, splitting time between third and second base earlier this season. Judging by what the general manager had to say, its easy to envision Lawrie seeing plenty more time at second. “Well just see,” said Anthopoulos. “I know (manager John Gibbons) is going to mix and match. When Juans been playing, hes been playing well, hes got tremendous numbers versus right-handers, [but] obviously has not had success versus left-handers and Danny can certainly be that platoon partner for him. “With respect to Brett, sure, youd like to have any player be at one position the entire time, but, like weve done a lot of the year, wed like to have had Bautista play one position the entire time, the one thing thats been great to see is all of our players want to win and are willing to play anywhere on the diamond.” From a business perspective, and dont discount the importance of this for a second, Valencias spent enough time in pro ball (nine seasons) the big leagues (parts of five seasons) to be considered a veteran with useful experience, but hes accrued so little major league service time (two years, 118 days) that he remains under club control for the considerable future. This is something Anthopoulos greatly values. Valencia is first-year arbitration eligible this coming off-season and cant become a free agent until, at the earliest, after the 2017 season. Remember, the Blue Jays are essentially bereft of positional prospect talent at Double-A or higher. The addition of Valencia is as useful for 2015 as it is in the immediate. Out the door go two extraneous pieces. While a compelling argument could be made that Kratz should have made the club out of spring training and served as Dioner Navarros back-up, knuckleballer R.A. ickey is more comfortable with his longtime battery mate, Josh Thole. As a result, Kratz spent his second stint in the organization in three places: Toronto, Buffalo and on the QEW shuttling from one city to the other. Kratz hit .198/.226/.346 in 34 games with the Blue Jays. He showed a touch of his valued power, hitting three home runs in 81 at-bats. Hendriks, 25, is still young but didnt figure into the Blue Jays plans. He won a game in three starts with Toronto, posting a 6.08 ERA, but on a number of occasions he needed every inch of Rogers Centres dimensions to keep the ball in the park in two home starts. He was hit hard on June 20 in Cincinnati, his last start in the big leagues, in a game that will best be remembered for the Blue Jays overcoming a nine-run deficit to beat the Reds 14-9. INJURY UPDATES Anthopoulos provided updates on the status of two injured players, Edwin Encarnacion and Adam Lind. As for the respective timetables for their returns: “You know, we really dont know," he said. "Theyre definitely moving in the right direction.” On Encarnacion (strained right quadriceps): “I know we mentioned with Encarnacion he had a bit of a setback; setback in a way that hed been improving so fast and it got slowed up. I guess the one thing to clarify on that is, yes, the way he was progressing and how fast he was progressing, all of a sudden that certainly slowed down because he had a little renewed pain when he was swinging again so we just decided to not take any chances and slow him up.” On Lind (fractured right foot): “He doesnt feel anything when he swings. He does feel it a little bit when he runs, when he has to run the bases and change directions and that can impact him when hes in the field. In terms of strictly in the box and swinging he doesnt feel it. Its going to come down to when that pain is gone when he has to run the bases and change direction and things like that. We dont know exactly when thats going to come but in the meantime at least were able to have him hit, swing and let him try to get his timing back.” Kyle Turris Jersey .com) - Devon Johnson ran for a school record 272 yards with four touchdowns and No. Mark Borowiecki Jersey . The 19-year-old from Westmount, Que., was edged 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-3 by third-seeded Alize Cornet of France. Cornet broke Bouchard twice in the last set and saved six break points in the three-hour match.CLEVELAND -- The squirrel was fearless. Zach McAllister wasnt nervous, either. Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley hit two-run homers to back McAllister, powering the Cleveland Indians over the Kansas City Royals 4-3 Monday night when a trespassing squirrel ran around Progressive Field and provided some extra entertainment. Kipnis connected in the sixth inning off Jeremy Guthrie (2-1), helping the Indians overcome a 3-2 deficit. Brantley provided Cleveland a 2-0 lead in the fourth. McAllister (3-0) gave up six hits and overcame three errors -- one on his errant throw in the fifth. Marc Rzepczynski and Cody Allen pitched a hitless inning each, and closer John Axford worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his seventh save. After the Royals scored three times, McAllister got out of the fifth with an inning-ending double play and then shook off third baseman Lonnie Chisenhalls error in the sixth and notched his third straight win. "He didnt let anything rattle him," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He worked to execute pitches. He was strong." McAllister also withstood a brief delay in the second when a squirrel ventured onto the field and eluded members of the grounds crew before finally leaving for the night. "He was right in front of me," McAllister said. Indians first baseman Nick Swisher motioned for the critter to run to him, but it darted past and into the outfield grass. "I was like, Cmon over here and sit in my glove," Swisher said. "I thought maybe hed sit on my shoulder like a parrot. I tell you what, that squirrel is eating, bro. That was a big squirrel." The squirrel was directed inside the Royals bullpen by some of the grounds staff, but the slippery rodent escaped and returned for another scamper to the delight of the crowd of 10,789. The pesky intruder hung around for another inning before it was shooed into the Indians centre-field bullpen. The squirrel perched on a ledge for several minutes before jumping the wall into the Heritage Park monument area. "That little joker was frolicking," Royals manager Ned Yost said. &quoot;They could have arrested him for trespassing because he didnt have a ticket. Mike Condon Jersey. " Alex Gordon and Omar Infante each had two of the Royals six hits. Indians designated hitter Jason Giambi went hitless in four at-bats in his season debut. He missed Clevelands first 18 games with a broken rib. Swisher led off the sixth with his second double, and Kipnis followed with his third homer, a drive into the seats in right-centre. Kipnis is 8 of 13 (.615) with two homers and six RBIs off Guthrie, who except for the home runs pitched effectively for 6 1-3 innings. Helped by McAllisters throwing error, the Royals scored three runs in the fifth to take a 3-2 lead. Mike Moustakas doubled to open the inning and scored when diving centre fielder Michael Bourn couldnt squeeze a sinking liner by Alcides Escobar. Jarrod yson followed with a bunt toward third that McAllister fielded cleanly before throwing wildly past first, allowing Escobar to score. One out later, Infantes RBI single put the Royals in front. Brantley connected in the fourth for his team-leading fourth homer, and second in two days. Kipnis led off with a double, and with one out, Brantley drove a 2-1 pitch from Guthrie over the wall in right. Brantley only hit 10 homers last season, and Francona believes the 26-year-old could develop into a more potent power hitter because "he gives himself a chance every at-bat." NOTES: Royals 1B coach Rusty Kuntz broke his left arm when he struck by a line drive hit by Salvador Perez during batting practice. Kuntz, who will undergo surgery on Wednesday, was replaced by Mike Jirschele. ... The Indians entered the week as one of four teams -- the Reds, Rockies and Padres are the others -- yet to play an extra-inning game. ... With Giambi available, Francona gave struggling DH/3B Carlos Santana the night off. Santana was just 2 for 38 in his past 10 games. ... Royals LHPs Tim Collins (strained hip) and Francisley Bueno (sprained finger) is to throw a simulated game Tuesday. Manager Ned Yost said both will go on a minor league rehab before being activated. Cheap NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys From China Cheap Jerseys Store Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys ' ' '