Schwarzes Brett » Kevin Towers gains flexibility in trying bolster

The Montreal Alouettes added a big-play receiver to their offensive arsenal Friday. Cheap Patriots Jerseys China . The Alouettes acquired veteran Fred Stamps from the Edmonton Eskimos for receiver Kenny Stafford. Stamps, 33, has registered 496 catches for 7,932 yards and 49 touchdowns over eight CFL seasons. Fred Stamps has been one of the top receivers in the CFL over the last five years, Montreal GM Jim Popp said in a statement. This addition adds strength, character, and another high-level performer to our solid receiving core. Stamps recorded five straight 1,000-yard seasons with Edmonton (2009-13) and was named a CFL all-star four times over that span. He led the league in receiving yards in 09 and 13 with 1,402 and 1,259, respectively. The acquisition of Stamps addresses a need for Montreal. Duron Carter, the clubs leading receiver last year, is expected to sign an NFL deal this off-season and veteran S.J. Green is slated to become a free agent next month. The six-foot-three, 204-pound Stafford had 20 catches for 230 yards and a TD last season with Montreal. He began his CFL career in 2013 with Calgary after spending time in the NFL with the NFLs Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins. Freds on-field accomplishments are well documented, Edmonton GM Ed Hervey said. We thank him for his contributions to the organization and wish him the best. We welcome Kenny Stafford to the Eskimo family and look forward to watching him compete. Cheap New England Patriots Jerseys . That little deal worked out in a big way for the Mavericks. Nowitzki had 21 points Tuesday night to pass Oscar Robertson for 10th on the NBAs career scoring list, leading the Mavs to a 95-83 victory over the Utah Jazz. Cheap Patriots Jerseys . Ashton scored a hat trick -- giving him 13 goals in 16 AHL games this season -- to power the Toronto Marlies to a 5-2 victory over the visiting Lake Erie Monsters in AHL action on Sunday. http://www.cheappatriotsjerseyselite.com/ . Charlottetown scored four times in the third period en route to a 5-2 win over the defending champion Halifax Mooseheads on Friday. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Catcher Ryan Hanigan and reliever Heath Bell are eager to try to help the Tampa Bay Rays get back to the playoffs. Hanigan was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds and Bell from the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of a three-team trade Tuesday. The deal was announced after Hanigan agreed to a $10.75 million, three-year contract that runs through 2016 and includes a club option for 2017. Tampa Bay sent minor league pitcher Justin Choate and a player to be named to the Diamondbacks. Arizona dealt left-hander David Holmberg to Cincinnati. Rays executive vice-president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman called a Hanigan "a tremendously talented defensive catcher" who can also help the Rays offensively. "He takes a lot of pride in what he does behind the plate and we also like what he can do in the batters box, especially against left-handed pitching," Friedman said. "Hes a guy weve had our eye on for a while. and so when we had the opportunity to acquire him, we were aggressive to do so." Hanigan, 33, is expected to become Tampa Bays primary catcher, even though he and Friedman said they wont head into spring training with a preconceived notion. The trade was completed a day after free agent catcher Jose Molina was re-signed to a $4.5 million, two-year contract. "Well figure out matchups, well figure out what makes the most sense on any given night, but we feel like he makes our team better," Friedman said. "Whether thats 70 games, 80 games, 90 games, 100 games, I dont know yet. Well figure that out as the season gets underway." Bell will be a candidate to become the Rays closer -- a job held the past two seasons by Fernando Rodney, who is a free agent. For the Diamondbacks, giving up the hard-throwing right-hander was a cost-saving move. The deal saves the team $5.5 million of Bells $9 million salary -- and Miami is paying the other $3.5 million as part of the three-team trade in October last year. Arizona general manager Kevin Towers gains flexibility in trying bolster depth and plug holes. "Weve still got some bench pieces we need to put together, We still have interest in bringing back Eric Chavez," Towers said, adding that the Diamondbacks also remain in the market for a starting pitcher and perhaps a corner outfielder with power. Hes also excited about the prospects headed for Arizona from Tampa Bay, particularly the player to be named. "Someone we value a lot as a prospect," Towers said. "Thats not to take anything away from Mr. Choate, but I would say that probably is the key player in the deal." Hanigan is a .262 career hitter who spent the past seven seasons with the Reds. He batted .198 with two homers and 21 RBIs in 75 games in 2013, when he spent two stints on the disabled list -- one because of a strained left oblique muscle and the other a sprained left wrist. Friedman is confident the catcher is healthy andd "will return to the really good player hes always been.dddddddddddd" Hanigan is looking forward to getting to know the pitching staff and play for manager Joe Maddon, whos led the Rays to the playoffs four of the past six seasons. "The numbers speak for themselves in terms of the competitiveness of the team year after year. Its a great thing they have going," Hanigan said. "Everybody Ive talked to has great things to say about Joe and the organization, the atmosphere they create to compete," Hanigan added. "Im just looking forward to helping the team out. Theyve got a lot of young arms. Theyve got a lot of good pitching. Im excited to get to know these guys." Bell, 36, has 168 saves in 10 seasons with the New York Mets, San Diego, Miami and the Diamondbacks. He led the majors with 132 saves for the Padres from 2009-11 and his 166 saves over the past five seasons are third the majors after Jonathan Papelbons 173 and Mariano Riveras 170. Bell was 5-2 with a 4.11 ERA with 15 saves in 69 appearances for the Diamondbacks last season. He will have an opportuinity to win the closers job in Tampa Bay, although Friedman stressed the Rays didnt necessarily acquire him with that in mind. "I think I have a shot of winning that job, the ninth-inning job, but I see my role as being to come in to spirng training and show them what I can do," Bell said. "They always say I dont run from run from anybody, I dont back down from anybody. I go right after everybody," the reliever added. "I kind of feel like I just want to help the team out the best way I can." The Reds traded a catcher they no longer needed for a left-handed pitching prospect. Devin Mesoraco, their first-round draft pick in 2007, emerged as an everyday catcher last season when Hanigan was hurt. Mesoraco played in a career-high 103 games, batting .238 with nine homers and 42 RBIs. Hanigan was on the disabled list twice and batted only .198 with two homers and 21 RBIs in 75 games. Hanigan caught both of Homer Baileys no-hitters in the last two seasons. The 33-year-old became expendable when the Reds decided after the season that they would make Mesoraco the starter. They signed catcher Brayan Pena to a two-year deal for $2,275,000, giving them a backup for Mesoraco. "Devin Mesoraco will have the opportunity to become a front-line catcher for us," general manager Walt Jocketty said. "Holmberg provides us with the quality pitching depth that every team needs." The 22-year-old lefty was a Southern League All-Star last season. He went 5-8 with a 2.75 ERA for Double-A Mobile, striking out 116 in 157 1-3 innings. He made his big league debut for Arizona against San Diego on Aug. 27. Holmberg was drafted by the White Sox in the second round in 2009 and was traded to Arizona with right-hander Daniel Hudson in the deal for right-hander Edwin Jackson on July 30, 2010. ' ' '