KISSIMMEE, Fla. Thomas Morstead Womens Jersey . -- The Atlanta Braves added to their extensive wave of long-term deals with their young stars on Sunday by agreeing to a $42 million, four-year contract with All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel, 25, avoided salary arbitration. He was the last Braves player eligible for arbitration. Kimbrel gets a $1 million signing bonus and salaries of $7 million this year, $9 million in 2015, $11 million in 2016 and $13 million in 2017. The Braves have a $13 million option for 2018 with a $1 million buyout. "We are very excited to agree to terms with Craig, who we feel is the best closer in Major League Baseball," Braves general manager Frank Wren said. "He is one of the key pieces of our pitching staff and we are happy to keep him in a Braves uniform for at least four more years." Kimbrels arbitration hearing had been set for Monday. The Braves offered $6.55 million and Kimbrel asked for $9 million. The Braves have been busy locking up some of their top young players and avoiding arbitration with long-term contracts. The deal with Kimbrel came only two days after the Braves and right-hander Julio Teheran, 23, agreed to terms on a six-year, $32.4 million contract on Friday. The deal includes a club option for the 2020 season. Earlier this month, the Braves announced multi-year deals with a pair of 24-year-old hitters -- first baseman Freddie Freeman and outfielder Jason Heyward. Freeman agreed to the biggest contract in Braves history -- $135 million for eight years. Heywards contract is for two years and $13.3 million. The agreement with Kimbrel allows the Braves to retain one of baseballs most dominant closers. He has 138 saves in the last three seasons, including 50 saves with a 1.21 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 67 innings last year. He earned one save in 2010 as his introduction to his run of three straight All-Star seasons in 2011-13. Kimbrel has a 1.39 ERA with 381 strikeouts in 227 1-3 career innings. The hard-throwing right-hander has been successful in 139 of 154 career saves opportunities. Kimbrel, from Huntsville, Ala., said he wanted to remain close to home. "Im very excited," Kimbrel told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "If I didnt want to be here, this wouldnt be going on. Were playing to win. This is where I want to be." Kimbrel can add value to his contract through a points system. He would earn five points each time hes an All-Star, 10 for winning a Cy Young Award, five for finishing second or third in Cy Young, three for finishing fourth or fifth in Cy Young, five for being the top Cy Young voter-getter among pitchers with fewer than five starts; 10 for winning an MVP award, five for finishing second or third in MVP, third for finishing fourth or fifth in MVP, and three for each season with 57 or more games finished. Kimbrel would be paid $1 million for 20 points and $500,000 for each additional five points through 45. Keenan Lewis Jersey . -- Xavier Thames dropped in 3s from deep, finessed floaters in the lane and carried San Diego State the way he did all season as the Mountain West player of the year. Pierre Thomas Jersey . -- Gustav Nyquist scored twice and added an assist as the Grand Rapids Griffins beat the Hamilton Bulldogs 5-3 in American Hockey League play Saturday night.(SportsNetwork.com) - If the St. Louis Cardinals are going to advance to their second World Series in three seasons they are going to have to earn it. Tonight, the Cardinals will try to finish off the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series at Busch Stadium. That may be easier said than done, though, as the Cardinals will be going up against perhaps the best pitcher in baseball in left-hander Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw is likely headed toward another NL Cy Young Award after a remarkable regular season that saw him go 16-9 and lead the major leagues with a minuscule 1.83 ERA and an NL-best 232 strikeouts. The Cardinals, though, have given him fits, as he lost twice to them in the regular season and, despite a terrific effort, was defeated by them on Saturday in Game 2 of this series. Kershaw gave up an unearned run and two hits over six innings of that one to fall to 1-1 with a 0.47 ERA in three starts this postseason. "All we have to do is score for him," said Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. St. Louis, meanwhile, will be trying to secure an amazing 19th NL pennant behind rookie Michael Wacha, who has been spectacular this postseason, winning both of his starts, while pitching to a 0.64 ERA. Wacha was able to outduel Kershaw in Game 2 by scattering five hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. Counting his last start of the regular season, when he came within an out of a no-hitter, he is 3-0 with an 0.42 ERA. "I just expect Michael to go out and do what hes done, just like the rest of our guys," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "Stick with what youve done all along the way, and dont ignore and doont deny the excitement. Patrick Robinson Saints Jersey. " Los Angeles staved off elimination on Wednesday, as Gonzalez hit two of the Dodgers four home runs in a 6-4 win at Dodger Stadium. Carl Crawford and A.J. Ellis also delivered solo blasts for the NL West champs, who hadnt homered at all in dropping three of the first four matchups to St. Louis. "I think if you look at it now, weve kind of become Americas team because everyone wants to see a seventh game," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Probably even fans in St. Louis want to see a seventh game, so I figure that everyones for us to win on Friday night." Zack Greinke (1-0) worked out of a bases-loaded no-out jam in the first, then limited the Cardinals to two runs on six hits over seven innings. He also helped his cause with an RBI single. "When Zack got out of that inning with no runs, it was just a huge momentum swing in the game," Dodgers second baseman Mark Ellis said. "Sometimes a game is won or lost in that first inning. I think that first inning had a huge impact on todays game." Matt Holliday went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Matt Adams and Matt Carpenter each collected two hits in the loss for the Cardinals, who, of course, have lost an NLCS both times they have held a 3-1 lead, including last year to the San Francisco Giants. Unlike last year though, the Cards will play the final two games in St. Louis, where they are 25-6 since Aug. 11. "Were not going to San Francisco, were going home, so I think thats a big plus," Cards third baseman David Freese said. If necessary, Game 7 will be played on Saturday at Busch Stadium. ' ' '
