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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Royals ace James Shields is open to staying in Kansas City beyond this season. That news should make the thousands of fans, already flying high over the teams strong finish a year ago, feel even better as they turned out for their annual FanFest on Friday. The Royals exercised their $13.5 million option on Shieldss contract shortly after going 86-76 last season, their best finish since 1989. The durable right-hander was a big reason behind the success, going 13-9 with a 3.15 ERA in an American League-leading 228.2 innings. Shields told a small group of reporters at Bartle Hall that he was willing to discuss an extension, but he said those talks with general manager Dayton Moore have not taken place. "Id definitely be open-minded to it," Shields said. "A player in my position, where I have one more year left before free agency, I mean, Im definitely open to it. I like Kansas City. I like the organization and I like the direction were going." If Shields went to the open market, its unlikely that the Royals would be a player in the chase. There were reports this off-season that he would seek a contract similar to that of former Royals star Zack Greinke, who signed a $147 million, six-year deal with the Dodgers last season. "Thats absolutely not true at all," Shields said. "I have no clue where he got that from, to be honest with you. Ive had no discussions with Dayton at all. "If Dayton wants to talk about it, Im more than willing to sit and talk about it. But during the season, my main focus is trying to win games and get some wins for this team." Pitchers and catchers are due to report to Surprise, Ariz., for the start of spring training on Feb. 14. The first full-squad workout is Feb. 20. Most of the Royals key pieces return from last season, when they contended into September for the first time in a decade. Their two biggest holes were filled by trading reliever Will Smith to Milwaukee for right field Norichika Aoki and signing Omar Infante to solidify second base. "I didnt think our defence could get any better," Shields said, "but theyre definitely filling some holes that we had. And theyre great additions to our lineup." Then theres the starting rotation, where Ervin Santana has become a free agent. While the right-hander has yet to sign elsewhere, the Royals appeared to move on when they signed left-hander Jason Vargas to a contract early in the off-season. Along with Jeremy Guthrie, the first three spots in the rotation are set. That leaves two up for grabs among a handful of candidates, including starters-turned-relievers Wade Davis and Luke Hochevar, veteran Bruce Chen, left-hander Danny Duffy and flame-thrower Yordano Ventura. "Ive just been working hard, resting my arm," said Ventura, who had a 3.52 ERA in three late-season starts in Kansas City. "Ive just been getting ready because I want to get out there and make the team." That doesnt figure to be an easy task given the glut of competition. "Its a competitive game anyway," Davis said. "Why not do it from within a little bit?" Davis said that he spent the off-season in the weight room, and pronounced himself more ready for this season than any previous year. He also said that hes already been throwing some bullpen sessions, giving him a head start on reporting for spring training. "Im definitely going in to start," said Davis, who began last season in the rotation but was demoted to the bullpen when he proved ineffective. "Hopefully I get that opportunity." Robert Williams Celtics Jersey .Kessy tried to show what he can do playing left wing for the Oilers in 5-0 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday in pre-season action. Bob Cousy Celtics Jersey .S.-Portugal game on June 22 in the Amazonian jungle city of Manaus. FIFPro, the international soccer players union, had pressed FIFA to avoid the earliest kickoffs in the hottest and most humid weather. http://www.celticssale.com/kids-kevin-mchale-celtics-jersey/. Picard had a goal and two assists to help Canada improve to 2-0 at the tournament. Seven different players scored for the two-time defending champions. "Today all four lines played excellent," said head coach Laura Schuler. Red Auerbach Celtics Jersey . At Manchester United, Ferguson developed Beckham into one of the worlds most recognizable sportsmen, but the midfielder left United in 2003 for Real Madrid under a cloud after his relationship with the manager broke down. Kevin Mchale Jersey . All of 46 seconds into the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 victory over Alex Ovechkins struggling Washington Capitals, Crosby assisted on Chris Kunitzs goal.NASHVILLE -- Jeff Skinner is providing a big offensive boost for the Carolina Hurricanes. Skinner got his first career hat trick to lead the Hurricanes to a 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night. He has five goals in his past two games. Justin Faulk and Riley Nash also scored for Carolina, winners of its past two. Mike Fisher and Viktor Stalberg scored for Nashville, which completed a four-game homestand 0-3-1. Faulk scored the games first goal just 23 seconds after the opening faceoff with a wrist shot from the right faceoff dot that beat Nashville goaltender Marek Mazanec between the pads. "Any time you can establish good play or good momentum early in the game, let alone a goal, is always huge," Faulk said. "You dont go into the game expecting to score on your first shift or your first shot on net, but obviously when you do that it kind of gives your team a little bit of a boost." Nashville tied it at 50 seconds of the second on Fishers goal. Defenceman Victor Bartley fired a slap shot toward the Carolina net from the left point. Standing just to the left of the slot, Fisher tipped the puck over the shoulder of Carolina goaltender Justin Peters. Bartleys assist was his first point of the season. "Its been a long time since I had a point so that was definitely nice to get," Bartley said. "Fisher did a great job getting on the net, and (Seth) Jones made a nice pass to me. We had some traffic and good things happened." Less than two minutes later, Stalberg gave Nashville the lead at 2:41. Coming down the right side on a 2-on-1 break with Nick Spaling, Stalbergs initial shot was turned aside by Peters, but he skated around the goal and swatted it into the net with a backhand for his third goal of the season. Skinner evened the game at 2 at 6:11 of the second on a wrist shot from the right circle low to Mazanecs glove side. Carolina regained the lead at 11:51 of the second. Just out of the penalty box, Ron Hainsey intercepted a clearing attempt by Nashvilles Roman Josi leading to a 3-on-1 break for the Hurricanes. Hainsey found Patrick Dwyer, who made a nice pass to Nash for his second of the season. &quuot;That third goal, it was just a blatant turnover," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said.dddddddddddd "That changed the whole game right there. It got them excited and it got us on our heels again." Nashs score snapped a 19-game goal-scoring drought. Skinners second goal came on the power play at 19:08 of the second when he ripped a slap shot from above the circle by Mazanec. "The PP has sort of been struggling throughout the year, but I think the last couple of games we have sort of felt good about that," Skinner said. "Its always nice to get goals late in the periods, coming into the locker room with that good feeling." Carter Hutton replaced Mazanec in the Nashville goal at the start of the third period. Mazanec, who was named the NHLs Rookie of the Month for November, stopped just nine of the 13 shots he faced in 40 minutes. Skinner completed the hat trick at 17:53 of the third with an empty-net goal. "Hes shooting the puck," Carolina coach Kirk Muller said. "Hes a goal scorer when he shoots the puck. He can score when he gets those opportunities, so hes working for it." Carolinas Patrick Dwyer, Mike Komisarek, and Dryason Bowman all left the game with injuries and did not return. Notes: Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne underwent an MRI on Thursday, and the results were improved according to general manager David Poile. Rinne will continue limited physical activity for the next two weeks and, if all goes well, will be able to advance to more strenuous conditioning later in December. "In a nutshell, the doctor is happy with the progress," Poile said. "What he is recommending is two more weeks basically of rehab if you will. December 20th is sort of a target date to hopefully get him into more strenuous activity leading back to playing." ... Nashville D Shea Weber missed his third straight game with an eye injury. The team announced that he would practice with the team Friday and return to the lineup as early as Saturday in Washington. ... Mazanec has started Nashvilles past 12 games. Carolina C Eric Staal has points in three straight games. ... The Hurricanes previous win in Nashville came Dec. 3, 2002. ' ' '