Moore-Towers and Moscovitch contributed t seasons with Washington and San

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VANCOUVER -- Alex Anthopoulos was a busy man last off-season. The Toronto Blue Jays general manager made a series of bold moves that reshaped the club ahead of what would turn out to be a disastrous 2013 campaign. The lead-up to the 2014 season has been relatively quiet in comparison, with the Blue Jays biggest splash coming when they cut ties with catcher J.P Arencibia and replaced him with free-agent Dioner Navarro. While that deal wasnt not on the same level as the headline-grabbing acquisitions of Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and R.A. Dickey, Anthopoulos says he wont be adding any pieces through trade or free agency unless it fits into the teams model. "We made a lot of big moves early last off-season. It wasnt by design, it just worked out that way," Anthopoulos said Friday. "Weve had a lot of dialogue. Theres still a lot of players out there, just havent been able to line up with respect to a price, whether its trade or free-agent cost. "We do have the ability on some trade fronts to just say Yes. We know what the asking prices are -- just not willing to pay that price. From a free-agent standpoint ... we have been given a price and we just dont necessarily see the value right now." The starting rotation continues to be a point of emphasis after a miserable 2013 that saw Toronto finish last in the American League East after starting the season as World Series favourites. Free agent starters Ervin Santana or Ubaldo Jimenez are still on the open market, but Anthopoulos said theres a chance that the rotation could be filled out from within. "We have a lot of candidates and a lot of options. Someone like Brandon Morrow coming back (from injury) is a huge boost for us, some of our young kids that are coming back are certainly going help," he said. "We still have dialogue and try to upgrade but we do have some upside to some of the guys that are coming back." Anthopoulos, who was in town for a luncheon with the single-A Vancouver Canadians, also touched on the New York Yankees signing of Japanese starter Masahiro Tanaka earlier this week. The 25-year-old right-hander inked a seven-year deal worth $155 million dollars with Torontos AL East rivals that also includes a $20-million dollar payment to his club team. The Blue Jays, who have an internal policy of not signing player contracts longer than five years, were rumoured to be in the running for Tanakas services early on in the process. "Obviously hes a great starter and there was a lot speculation on where the dollars would go just based on the previous two Japanese starters (Daisuke Matsuzaka and Yu Darvish)," said Anthopoulos. "I think it was expected that he would go north of (their price tags) -- $175 million, I dont know if anybody predicted that. "Hes very talented and the Yankees certainly got better." Anthopoulos said the Blue Jays use the five-year limit on contracts as "a guideline" but tend to shy away from longer-term deals because they offer clubs very little wiggle room. "Weve held firm on our five-year policy in terms of contracts. When free agents are signing for seven, eight years, then normally thats where we tap out," he said. "We definitely have the resources financially in terms of annual value and salaries and things like that. I think weve proven that with some of the players we have acquired. But just the length of term -- very rarely do those seven-, eight-year deals work out." Anthopoulos and manager John Gibbons will be feeling the heat if the Blue Jays stumble out of the gate as the they did in 2013. Fans flocked to Rogers Centre with dreams of a return to the teams glory years of the early 1990s that included two World Series titles, but were instead bitterly disappointed with the product on the field. With pitchers and catchers set to report for spring training on Feb. 17, a repeat in 2014 surely wont fly. "Youre always anxious to try to improve the club and to add to it, but you dont necessarily have to guard against it when you know theres a deal that just doesnt make any sense," said Anthopoulos. "We just dont want to force a deal and do it for the sake of doing it. "We want to make moves that we think are going to help the club. If we have to go more years and dollars than we believe in, people might get excited now but a few months into it we may be regretting that deal and be hamstrung with a contract that we dont want." Sammie Coates Jersey . The worlds No. 2 tennis player has achieved what no politician has managed since the bloody Balkan wars in the 1990s: to at least temporarily reunite former bitter wartime foes as they jointly struggle against the regions worst flooding in more than a century. Hines Ward Youth Jersey . Louis, MO (SportsNetwork. http://www.steelersjerseysofficialshop.com/black-friday-leveon-bell-jersey/ . Rostov qualified for Europe for the first time since 2000 with a surprise cup triumph. The football union blocked the club from taking its European place because it said it had breached domestic licensing rules. Bud Dupree Jersey . Thank God. This IS a story about the story of Super Bowl Media Day. Senquez Golson Womens Jersey . Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli defeated Eduardo Schwank and Horacio Zeballos 6-7 (6), 7-6 (, 7-6 (3), 6-4 in a four-hour match on outdoor clay.ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders have added another proven veteran to their rebuilding defence, signing free-agent cornerback Carlos Rogers to a one-year contract on Monday. Rogers, 32, joins former San Francisco 49ers secondary mate Tarell Brown on Oaklands overhauled defence. The Raiders have also brought in defensive linemen Justin Tuck, LaMarr Woodley and Antonio Smith. All of those other players are at least 29 years old and have played in the Super Bowl in their careers as general manager Reggie McKenzie is counting on that experience to help end an 11-year playoff drought. "The Raiders have been one of the teams that have been more active in the off-season, trying to turn things around," Rogers said. "I see where this team is going and it wasnt hard to come here and finalize the deal." Oakland is coming off back-to-back four-win seasons and hasnt had a winning record since winning the 2002 AFC championship. After showing some promise early in the season, the Raiders defence wilted late and allowed the second-most points per game (28.3) in franchise history. Oakland has had two of the three highest scoring seasons allowed in coach Dennis Allens first two years with the franchise. That led to the big changes on defence this off-season. Rogers played an NFL-high 1,259 snaps as a slot cornerback in his three years in San Franciscoo, according to Pro Football Focus.ddddddddddddHe will likely play that role again in Oakland on the nickel defence and will also compete with last years first-round pick D.J. Hayden for a starting spot outside across from Brown. "We were a big part of the puzzle that turned San Franciscos defence around, so hopefully we can translate that over here and be even better," Rogers said. Rogers was let go earlier this off-season by the Niners in a cost-saving move. He said he holds no ill will to his former team but is looking forward to playing San Francisco this upcoming season. Rogers has started 116 games over nine seasons with Washington and San Francisco. He has 17 career interceptions and 109 passes defenced. His best year statistically came in his first season in San Francisco in 2011 when he had six interceptions and was picked for the Pro Bowl and earned second-team All Pro honours. That performance helped lead San Francisco back to the playoffs after eight straight years without a berth. Rogers played in three NFC title games in three seasons with the Niners and also lost the Super Bowl to Baltimore following the 2012 season. "I want to continue to win and I want to continue to be a big part of helping to turn this organization around, like I did in San Francisco and continue to win and try to get to that Super Bowl and win it," Rogers said. cheap jerseys cheap jerseys china cheap jerseys wholesale jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '