12-27-2019, 12:46 AM
NEW YORK -- Jay Z, the new agent for Robinson Cano, had dinner Monday night with top officials of the New York Mets. Karl Malone Jersey . Chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and general manager Sandy Alderson were among those there. The get-together also included sports agent Brodie Van Wagenen, but not Cano. A five-time All-Star second baseman, Cano is a free agent. He is seeking a 10-year contract for more than $300 million from the Yankees. Alderson said last week he doubted the Mets would offer any nine-figure contracts. "They requested a meeting," Alderson said Tuesday. "We talked generally and that was it. As I said, we were approached. Having said last week that I didnt foresee contracts in the $100 million range for the Mets this season, I think that statement still pertains. On the other hand, we are committed to improving the team and we will explore whatever possibilities arise, however remote and eventual outcome." Alderson called it "a very preliminary meeting" and said it included a PowerPoint, books and pamphlets. "We certainly have a high regard for Robinson Cano as a player," he said. "It was my sense the presentation was a little bit overdone." Jay Zs Roc Nation Sports formed a partnership this year with Van Wagenens CAA Baseball. "We felt it would be useful enough for us to meet Jay Z and Brodie, whether its in connection with Robinson Cano or some future client that they may have," Alderson said. While the Mets have more money to spend after getting large contracts for Johan Santana and Jason Bay off their books, Alderson says free-agent prices have been high. He said he didnt teams payroll would be below its 2013 level of about $95 million. "We have to be realistic about the market and not sort of deny the inevitable. If the market is as robust as it seems to be, then we have to acknowledge that," he said, adding: "It may not be manifest yet to the average fan, the average person, but I think we are more active than we were last year." NOTES: The Mets signed 1B Brandon Allen to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. The 27-year-old Allen, who last played in the majors for Oakland and Tampa Bay in 2012, is a .203 career hitter with 12 homers and 41 RBIs in 116 big league games. He spent last season in San Diegos system, batting .267 with 17 home runs and 76 RBIs for Triple-A Tucson. Ed Davis Jersey . The move is retroactive to Aug. 1. Hosmer was originally hit on the hand in the first inning of a July 20 loss to Boston. He has played most of the time since, but missed a few contests due to the injury, then departed Thursdays win over the Twins and had tests that revealed the fracture. Tony Bradley Jersey .500. The Jets have now won nine of their last 11, and five of their last six road games. With the win they moved to within two points of Vancouver in the west, the Canucks holding down the eighth spot. Vancouver lost in Boston, while the other big game saw Dallas win in Phoenix. https://www.cheapjazzonline.com/248e-dar...-jazz.html . If Vettel wins at Suzuka on Sunday, and his nearest rival Fernando Alonso finishes worse than eighth, the German driver will join his compatriot Michael Schumacher and Argentine Juan-Manuel Fangio as the only men to win four consecutive titles. LOS ANGELES -- The Clippers expected theyd be better once Chris Paul returned to the lineup. They just probably couldnt have imagined how much. Blake Griffin had 26 points, 11 rebounds and six assists Sunday night as Los Angeles stormed out to a 31-point lead in the first quarter with its All-Star point guard back on the court and pummeled the Philadelphia 76ers 123-78. "It felt great just to play. You never know what its going to be like until you actually get out there and compete," Paul said. "A lot of things go through your mind out there, especially when you come back because you want to make sure youre not too tired and not trying too hard. But at the same time, weve been playing extremely well and I didnt want to break up our rhythm." Jamal Crawford scored 21 for the defending Pacific Division champions, who were 12-6 while Paul was sidelined with a right shoulder he separated Jan. 3 at Dallas. The seven-time All-Star point guard showed no signs of rust, getting seven points and eight assists in 23 minutes. "He set the tone," Crawford said. "The energy from when he was introduced, to the level of play that he brings, it makes everybody better." DeAndre Jordan had 20 rebounds and 10 points, helping Los Angeles increase its division lead over idle Phoenix to four games. The 45-point margin of victory was the largest for the Clippers franchise. The previous record was 39, set in a 121-82 win over Chicago on Nov. 24 at Staples Center. "Thats an intense, defensive-oriented athletic type of team. We ran into a buzz saw and we got jumped early," Sixers coach Brett Brown said. "What an incredible opportunity for a young point guard like Michael Carter-Williams to see Chris Paul play and to play against him." Carter-Williams, who leads all rookies in scoring, rebounding and assists per game, finished with 14 points, five assists and seven boards in 34 1/2 minutes. Tony Wroten scored 21 points off the bench for the 76ers, losers of six straight and 13 of 16. Center Spencer Hawes missed all eight shots in 23 scoreless minutes and had just two rebounds. Pauls return provided an instant spark, as the Clippers opened the game with a 13-0 run that included a pair of 3-pointers by Crawford off Phiiladelphia turnovers. C. J. Miles Jersey. . They widened the gap to 30-5 while the 76ers missed 17 of their first 19 shots. Griffin limped to the dressing room with a bruised left shin after Wroten fell into him on a foul by Jordan with less 3 minutes left in the opening period. But the four-time All-Star returned to the bench before the teams highest-scoring quarter of the season ended, and Willie Green put an exclamation point on it with a 3 from the left corner to give Los Angeles a 46-15 cushion. Griffin and teammate Antawn Jamison shared a laugh on the bench as Wroten went to the foul line, trying to cut into a 54-17 deficit about 3 minutes into the second quarter. By then, it hardly seemed to matter to the sellout crowd that Clippers starting forward J.J. Redick missed his third straight game with a sore right hip. It was a laugher the whole way. "Our defence really set the tone," Crawford said. "When were covering for each other like that and playing together, it makes it tough on other teams and kind of breaks their rhythm." Griffin showed no hint of any ankle issues after his mishap -- particularly during a Showtime-like sequence in the second quarter. Paul went in alone on a fast break with Griffin trailing the play, then bounced the ball off the glass and Griffin sent the crowd into a frenzy with the first of back-to-back windmill dunks 27 seconds apart. That made it 60-21 with 4:46 left in the first half. "I think our guys have tried that in a one-point game. Thats the problem," coach Doc Rivers said. "But thats who they are, and I dont want to take the joy away -- as long as theres no turnovers with it." Philadelphia never challenged after the Clippers built a 69-30 halftime lead. Crawfords 15-footer gave them their biggest margin, 89-33, with 6:01 left in the third quarter. It was 100-51 going into the fourth. Before Sunday, the Clippers had never beaten Philadelphia by more than 29 points since the franchises first played in 1970-71. NOTES: The Clippers shot 56.2 per cent and the Sixers 27.0 -- going 3 for 28 from 3-point range. ... The Clippers are 10-1 against teams that are currently in last place in their respective divisions. The only blemish was a 98-80 loss at Orlando on Nov. 6. ' ' '