30 pitches in a routine bullpen session Sunday at Yankee

Free agent starter Ervin Santana is close to finding a home for 2014. CBS Sports Jon Heyman is reporting that Santana will sign a one-year deal, likely in the next two days with one of a trio of suitors, with the Toronto Blue Jays believed to be heavily involved. Heyman reports that the Blue Jays and Orioles are the "clear favourites" to land the right-hander, who is believed to be seeking a one-year pact in the neighbourhood of the $14 million qualifying offer he rejected from the Kansas City Royals earlier this off-season. Another team - believed to be the Colorado Rockies - is also in the mix. Santana waited the entire off-season in hopes of landing a multi-year deal but when one failed to emerge, he altered his stance. Earlier this week he changed representation and is believed to now be seeking a one-year deal. He is also reported to prefer signing with a "top hitting team". The Dominican hurlers value has been hampered by rejecting said qualifying offer. As a result of that decision, the team that signs Santana will have to offer draft pick compensation to the Royals. For most teams, that pick would be a first-rounder in this Junes MLB Draft. However, both the Blue Jays and Orioles would avoid said fate. The Blue Jays have two first round picks, but both are protected at ninth and 11th overall, respectively. Should the Jays sign Santana, the cost would be the forfeiture of their 50th overall pick. Baltimore, having already surrendered their 17th overall selection after signing Ubaldo Jimenez and their 55th overall pick by signing Nelson Cruz, would surrender the 91st overall pick were they to sign Santana. Santana posted a 9-10 record and logged 211 innings with the Royals last season and posted the lowest earned-run average (3.24) and second lowest WHIP (1.142) of his nine-year MLB career. He has posted a 105-90 career record averaging 7.1 strikeouts-per-nine innings in 268 total games with the Royals and Los Angeles Angels. Buy Sneakers Online Cheap . A night later, he was back to help lead a rout of the Detroit Pistons. John Wall had 20 points and 11 assists, and Beal scored 10 of his 15 points during the second quarter as Washington pulled away for a 106-82 victory on Saturday. Cheap Shoes From China . - Doug Kalitta led Top Fuel qualifying Friday in the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway with a 3. http://www.cheapsneakersfire.com/. The right-hander said he threw about 30 pitches in a routine bullpen session Sunday at Yankee Stadium, his final hurdle before starting Tuesday night at Tampa Bay. Cheap Nike Sneakers From China . - Titans quarterback Jake Locker will miss the rest of the season with a Lisfranc injury to his right foot, leaving Tennessee trying to rally with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Cheap Sneakers On Fire . - The fiancee of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez is set to ask a judge to throw out allegations that she lied to a grand jury.FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Falcons running back Steven Jackson, who has missed the last four games with a hamstring injury, is expected to practice on Wednesday. The news raised hopes around the practice facility that he will play this week at Arizona. But coach Smith cautiously hedged, saying Monday the Falcons "anticipate" Jackson will return to the teams first practice of the week. The running back has been held out since pulling the hamstring on Sept. 15 against the Rams. Smith said Jackson will be watched closely, especially on Wednesday. "This is all based on what the doctor will say in terms of how much he will participate in practice as we go through the week," Smith said. "When we left out of here on Friday, everything was very good in terms of his testing and the opportunity to return to play. "We are anticipating well get him in and well see how he handles it. Youve got to go in and take it one day at a time when youre coming back from an injury. Obviously youre not going to go out there and have him participate fully in a practice the first day hes back." Smith said adjustments and corrections made during the bye week played a big role in Atlantas 31-23 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday. Smith said he and his staff spent the bye week "looking at everything we do" before the Falcons ended their three-game losing streak. "A number of things we did during the bye week I think paid dividends," he said. Some of the biggest changes were on defence, including a deeper rotation on the defensive front with rookie defensive ends Stansly Maponga and Malliciah Goodman added to the mix. Maponga was limited in training camp while recovering from ankle surgery. The Falcons used the bye week to add depth to the defensive line rotation. "I thought it worked very well for us," Smith said. "We had much better pressure. We were able to sack the quarterback three times. We had opportunities for a couple other plays, but I thought it was nice to see some of the younger guys stepping up." Also, rookie cornerbacks Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford had new rolees with Trufant playing the nickel back and Alford moving outside in passing situations.dddddddddddd Smith said the Falcons also wanted to play more of an attacking style on defence. The more aggressive style showed when safeties William Moore and Thomas DeCoud each blitzed on Tampa Bays second play of the game. Moore sacked quarterback Mike Glennon, forcing a fumble, and DeCoud returned the recovery 30 yards for a touchdown. Defensive co-ordinator Mike Nolan moved to the field from the press box level for the game so he could have better communication with the players, including the two-safety blitz which produced the defensive touchdown. "It was a great play call by coach Nolan," Moore said. "He called it and we executed it perfectly and got a big turnover." The offence also made some changes. Darius Johnson was promoted from the practice squad to add depth at receiver following Julio Jones season-ending foot injury and Roddy Whites hamstring and ankle injuries. White was inactive for the first time in his nine-year career. Johnson had two catches and Drew Davis had a 24-yard catch, his first of the season. Harry Douglas led Atlanta with seven catches for 149 yards and a touchdown. Smith wouldnt update Whites status on Monday. Jacksons return could provide another boost for the Falcons (2-4), who managed only 18 yards rushing against the Buccaneers. Jackson, 30, signed a three-year, $12 million deal with Atlanta after posting eight straight seasons with more than 1,000 yards rushing at St. Louis. Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling have shared the carries the last four games. Rodgers caught two touchdown passes from Matt Ryan but neither had success running the ball against the Buccaneers. The Falcons biggest gain on the ground was only seven yards. The good news was Ryan was not sacked while completing 20 of 26 passes for 273 yards with t