oits bullpen will likely undergo a makeover afte

Following unproductive meetings with Canadian Football League executives and the leagues legal counsel Friday, the Canadian Football League Players Association has decided to take a significant step to emphasize its solidarity in negotiations: The union has begun sending strike ballots by priority mail. A player confirmed to TSN on the condition of anonymity that he received his ballot yesterday. Another confirms hes been told to expect his shortly. "The unions executive committee insists a strike vote does not mean were pushing away from the table," the player said. "But we want the league to know were serious about our position." The players executive committee includes union president Scott Flory, vice-presidents Jay McNeil, Marwan Hage and Jeff Keeping and treasurer Brian Ramsay. Keeping (Toronto Argonauts) and Ramsay (Edmonton Eskimos) are the two active players on the committee. The league and players are still scheduled to meet in Toronto Wednesday - eight days before the current CBA is set to expire on May 29 - when the players will table a new proposed collective bargaining agreement that will include a revenue sharing scheme with the union requesting a percentage of gate, sponsorship and television revenue. With each revenue stream the union is proposing its share be in the range of approximately 40-55 per cent. The proposal includes a salary cap of approximately $7 million in the first year of a new CBA. In 2013, the last year of the current agreement, the salary cap was $4.4 million. The league has so far been reluctant to discuss any revenue sharing model. "Weve been told to expect a step back tomorrow (from the owners)," the player says. The CFLPA requires more than 50 per cent of its players to confirm a strike vote. But the players must adhere to provincial labour laws, and cannot picket immediately. According to a source with knowledge of the talks, only players in certain provinces, where a strike vote can happen before the current bargaining expires, have received their ballots. Cheap Shoes UK Free Delivery . Long snapper Patrick Mannelly announced Friday that he is retiring after a 16-year-career with the Bears, a span in which he played in a team record 245 games and snapped the ball 2,282 times. Wholesale Shoes UK Cheap . - The Chicago Bears have agreed to a one-year contract with free-agent centre Brian de la Puente. http://www.clearanceshoesuk.com/.The law passed on Friday, in a 128-62 vote in the lower chamber of parliament, was prompted by FIFA bribery scandals in recent years.Switzerland-based sports leaders such as FIFA President Sepp Blatter and IOC President Thomas Bach are now classed as politically exposed persons in wider legislation covering money-laundering. Shoes Clearance UK . The struggling New Orleans Pelicans were simply overmatched. Crawford hit seven 3s on his way to 24 points, and the Clippers beat the Pelicans 123-110 on Monday night. "We understand what we do well. If we all do what we do well, well make our team stronger," Crawford said. Shoes UK Online Shop Cheap . - Jerome Verrier scored the winner 8:24 into overtime and Louis-Phillip Guindon stopped 46 shots as the Drummondville Voltigeurs edged the host Val-dOr Foreurs 4-3 on Friday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff action. DETROIT -- Less than two years after boldly signing Prince Fielder to a $214 million contract, the Detroit Tigers traded the slugging first baseman to Texas in another blockbuster move. Fielder was dealt to the Rangers on Wednesday night for second baseman Ian Kinsler. The Tigers agreed to pay the Rangers $30 million as part of the swap, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the amount of money exchanged was not revealed when the teams announced the trade. The $30 million is payable from 2016-20. "Obviously, a very exciting trade for us in adding Prince Fielder to the organization," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "Also a tough trade to make in that Ian Kinslers been with the organization since he was drafted in 03, and weve signed him here a couple of times. Been here, a catalyst for our World Series clubs, and a huge part of this. A winning guy, a heart-and-soul guy, and Detroit got a tremendous player and person." Its the first headline-grabbing move of baseballs off-season, and it involves two of the American Leagues top teams. Detroit has won three consecutive AL Central titles and reached the World Series in 2012, while Texas won the AL pennant in 2010 and 2011. Fielder, a five-time All-Star, had to consent to the trade before it could be completed. The big first baseman signed a $214 million, nine-year contract with the Tigers before the 2012 season that includes a limited no-trade provision. "Were thankful for what he did for us," Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "Itll be a bat that we miss at times -- theres no doubt about it." Kinsler just finished the first season of a $75 million, five-year contract. With stars like Fielder, Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera and Anibal Sanchez in the fold, Detroits payroll had become one of the games biggest. And although Fielder hit 55 home runs over the last two years for the Tigers, his numbers dipped this season and he struggled in the playoffs when Detroit lost to Boston in the AL championship series. Fielder hit .279 with 25 homers this year. He drove in 106 runs, but it was his lowest home run total over a full season. He did not have a single RBI in the 2013 post-season and hit .182 in the ALCS. Daniels said the trade came together quickly -- the first discussions took place Tuesday. The Rangers will welcome the durable Fielder, who has played 162 games in four of the last five seasons. Texas was interested in Fielder when he signed with Detroit as a free agent. "Our offer was well below what it ended up being, so we werent that close," Daniels said. "I thought he was a genuine guy that really loved the game, really loved playing the game, loved his boys, his sons." Kinsler batted .277 with 13 homers this year. The a three-time All-Star was limited to 136 games because of injuries to his ribs and right side. Kinsler stole 15 bases in 2013 -- not a high total by his standards but more than any player on the Detroit team he is joining. The trade could save the Tigers more than $75 million in the long run, giving them more financial flexibility with Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer a year from free agency. Fielder is still only 29, and the Rangers are set to add a big bat to the middle of their lineup while also resolving a logjam in the middle of their infield. Jurickson Profar, a highlly touted 20-year-old prospect, appeared to be blocked by Kinsler and shortstop Elvis Andrus.dddddddddddd Now, Profar should have a chance to play regularly. The Tigers signed Fielder to a huge contract shortly before spring training in 2012 -- after designated hitter Victor Martinez injured his knee. Martinez came back in 2013. With Fielder gone, Cabrera may move from third base back to first. "Im really not sure what were going to do as we sit here now today," Dombrowski said. "Eventually, we see him as a first baseman. Will it happen this year or not? Im not sure." The 31-year-old Kinsler fills a need at second base for Detroit after Omar Infante became a free agent. Fielder is due $168 million through 2020, a salary of $24 million per season. Under his no-trade clause, he submits a list of 10 teams each year that he can be traded to without his approval. Texas was not on that list this year, but Fielder agreed to accept the trade and instructed agent Scott Boras to approve the deal. "If he was coming off the best year of his career, hes not available," Daniels said. "I think thats kind of the whole idea of this deal -- if anybody feels like thats a sign of things to come, that hes slipping, you may not like the deal. We dont feel that way. We dont feel that way at all." Kinsler is guaranteed $62 million through 2017: $16 million in each of the next two seasons, $14 million in 2016, $11 million in 2017 and a $5 million buyout of a $10 million option. Its already been an unpredictable off-season for the Tigers. Manager Jim Leyland stepped down after the season and was replaced by Brad Ausmus. Detroit could have come back with a similar roster and probably been favoured to win the division again, but now more changes seem possible. "If you put Kinslers bat at the top of the lineup, thats an instant threat," Ausmus said. "It changes the dynamic, but it doesnt mean its any less potent." If Cabrera moves back to first base, prospect Nick Castellanos might replace him at third. Previously, it appeared Castellanos would have to play the outfield if both Cabrera and Fielder were still on the team. Andy Dirks is still available to play left field, but thats a spot the Tigers could still try to upgrade. They also have six capable starting pitchers -- Drew Smyly was used in the bullpen this year -- so thats a surplus that could come in handy in a possible trade. Detroits bullpen will likely undergo a makeover after struggling last season. The Rangers lost slugging outfielder Nelson Cruz to a late-season suspension as a result of MLBs investigation in the Biogenesis case. Hes now a free agent, and if Texas loses him, Fielder, who hit 50 homers in 2007 for Milwaukee at 23, should help replace his production. "A huge focus for us this winter was finding some kind of middle-of-the-order presence and power, and at 29 years old, I still think theres still a lot of big run production and years ahead of him," Daniels said. Adrian Beltre and Alex Rios are among the dangerous hitters under contract next season in Texas. Beltre had an AL-high 199 hits and Rios, acquired from the Chicago White Sox in August after Cruz was suspended, has a year left on his deal. The Rangers lost a one-game tiebreaker to Tampa Bay for the second AL wild card this year. The trade agreement was first reported by CBSSports.com. ' ' '