a trade. Moore said such rumours amounted to "hot stove rhetoric." "

Chris Neil has left the Ottawa Senators Monday night game against the Washington Capitals with a lower body injury. Neil tried to hit Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin early in the first period but sustained an injury on the play and went immediately to the bench. The Senators announced that Neil would not return to the game through the teams official Twitter account. Tigers Jerseys China .com) - Jeff Teague had 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 90-85 on Saturday night. Detroit Tigers Store .com) - Longtime Senators star Daniel Alfredsson returned to Ottawa on Thursday to officially announce his retirement. https://www.cheaptigers.com/ . Watching them over the past year - and in some cases, two years - has given us a starting point for this seasons Craigs List. Stitched Tigers Jerseys . Costa Rica followed up its wins over Uruguay and Italy by holding England to a dour 0-0 draw on Tuesday, enough to finish first in Group D. 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DETROIT LIONS AT ATLANTA FALCONS, 9:30 AM (ET) Detroit - RB Reggie Bush, TE Eric Ebron, TE Joseph Fauria, WR Calvin Johnson, QB Kellen Moore, TE Brandon Pettigrew, OT LaAdrian Waddle Atlanta - CB Javier Arenas, DT Jonathan Babineaux, OT Cameron Bradfield, WR Freddie Martino, QB Sean Renfree, OT Jonathan Scott, LB Tyler Starr SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS, 1:00 PM (ET) Seattle - DT Jordan Hill, CB Byron Maxwell, OT Andrew McDonald, TE Zach Miller, C Max Unger, LB Bobby Wagner, WR Bryan Walters Carolina - CB Bene Benwikere, LB Chase Blackburn, WR Philly Brown, G Amini Silatolu, G Trai Turner, RB Fozzy Whittaker, RB DeAngelo Williams HOUSTON TEXANS AT TENNESSEE TITANS, 1:00 PM (ET) Houston - OT Jeff Adams, DB Josh Aubrey, LB Brian Cushing, DB Darryl Morris, WR DeVier Posey, QB Tom Savage, LB Jeff Tarpinian Tennessee - RB Antonio Andrews, WR Kris Durham, TE Richard Gordon, DL DaQuan Jones, CB Coty Sensabaugh, OT Will Svitek, TE Taylor Thompson BALTIMORE RAVENS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS, 1:00 PM (ET) Baltimore - CB Chykie Brown, LB Arthur Brown, DL Chris Canty, TE Owen Daniels, G/C Gino Gradkowski, RB Bernard Pierce, OT Jah Reid Cincinnati - RB Rex Burkhead, DE Will Clarke, WR A.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Omar Infante walked past the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium, where he dressed so many times as a member of the Detroit Tigers, and slipped on a crisp, new Kansas City Royals jersey. It was the latest sign of that the Royals intend to compete for the AL Central this season. The Royals introduced their new second baseman Tuesday, one day after announcing they had agreed to a $30.25 million, four-year contract that includes a club option for 2018. "I really got to see this team up close and I was very impressed by what they did last year," Infante said, "and I think theyre close to taking the next step." Infante will make $5 million next season, $7.5 million in 2015, $7.75 million in 2016 and $8 million in 2017. His option is $10 million with a $2 million buyout, and if Infante wins Silver Slugger or is picked for the All-Star game, his salary increases by $250,000 for each remaining season. Infante, who turns 32 next week, fills perhaps the most glaring hole that remained in the Royals lineup. Kansas City used six different options at second base last season, and none did enough to make the club feel comfortable about them in what could be a pivotal season for the franchise. The Royals are coming off an 86-76 season, their best record since 1989, and were in contention until the final week. But with star pitcher James Shields entering the final year of his contract, the window to break through to the playoffs for the first time since 1985 may be closing soon. Thats why the Royals have been aggressive this off-season. Theyve already sign left-hander Jason Vargas to a $32 million, four-year deal to make up for the likely loss of right-hander Ervin Santana in free agency, and traded reliever Will Smith to the Milwaukee Brewers for outfielder Norichika Aoki. Royals general manager Dayton Moore said following the season that three most pressing needs were to add a starting pitcher, upgrade in the outfield and solidify the second base position. Infante appears to be the final major item on the off-season shopping list. "We like our club going forward," Moore said Tuesday. "Weve made a lot of improvements, but we fully expect and understand that were going to have to massage our roster and keep makiing adjustments throughout the year, and hopefully stay injury free.dddddddddddd" Infante has had some injury troubles in the past, including an ankle injury that he picked up during a collision at second base that limited him to 118 games last season. But he still hit .318 with 10 homers and 51 RBIs, far better production than Kansas City got from its second basemen. Emilio Bonifacio, Jamey Carroll, Chris Getz, Johnny Giavotella, Elliot Johnson and Miguel Tejada combined to hit just .243 with four home runs last season. Moore said earlier this off-season that he expected payroll to be about the same as it was in 2013, which ended at $86,614,795. But the signing of Infante combined with expected raises for arbitration-eligible players means the payroll for next season will shoot past $90 million, a franchise record. Thats led to speculation that the Royals may have to trim salary, and rumours that designated hitter Billy Butler -- who is owed $8.5 million next season with a club option for 2015 -- may become available for a trade. Moore said such rumours amounted to "hot stove rhetoric." "Its no different than you hear other players throughout the league that potentially are going to be moved," Moore said. "Billys a terrific hitter, and hes going to hit. Thats what Billy does." As for the payroll, Moore said that "were not under any directive to cut," and that team owner David Glass has been supportive and flexible when it comes to signing players such as Infante. "We all understand this makes really good sense, this type of deal," Moore said, "and putting Omar on this team, Mr. Glass has always been supportive." Infante also received interest from the New York Yankees, who are searching for a replacement for Robinson Cano. But they were lukewarm about going beyond three years, allowing Kansas City to seal the deal by offering a fourth year to a player who will be 35 by the end of the contract. "We think he can play," Moore said. "The players that play in the middle of the diamond for a long time, they all have some commonalities. Theyre very smart, theyre hard workers, good teammates, they know how to play, and thats why those guys have long careers." ' ' '