Atlanta pulled to within one on Teagues layup

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Royals might have found their answer at second base. The Royals and veteran Omar Infante reached a tentative agreement on a four-year contract Friday night, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the contract. The deal was first reported by Fox Sports. Royals general manager Dayton Moore has said throughout the off-season that upgrading at second base was a priority. Kansas City used six players at the position last season, though none did enough to make the Royals feel comfortable moving forward. Infante, who turns 32 on Dec. 26, would stabilize second base in Kansas City for the first time in years. He hit .318 with 10 homers and 51 RBIs in 118 games for Detroit last season. Infante received substantial interest from the New York Yankees, who were seeking a replacement for Robinson Cano. But the Yankees were hesitant to give Infante more than three years, and the Royals decided to give the versatile infielder an extra year to help consummate the deal. The Royals signed left-hander Jason Vargas to a $32 million, four-year deal in November to help replace Ervin Santana, who is likely to sign elsewhere in free agency. The deals for Vargas and Infante push the notoriously frugal Royals beyond $90 million in payroll for next season — a club record, assuming they dont make any moves to trim salary. Moore has said he expects payroll to be "about the same" as last season, which was roughly $82 million. But hes also said the Royals can be flexible if the right opportunity arises. Infante played all of his games at second base for Detroit last season, but the former All-Star also has logged significant time at shortstop and third base while playing a bit in the outfield. Hell play the majority of his time at second base in Kansas City, where Emilio Bonifacio, Jamey Carroll, Chris Getz, Johnny Giavotella, Elliot Johnson and Miguel Tejada each tried to fill in last season. They combined to hit .243 with just four home runs. The fallback plan for the Royals was to go into next season with Bonifacio as their primary second baseman, but hell likely become a utilityman now. The Royals are certainly familiar with Infante from having watched him play for their AL Central rival Detroit. Infante came up with the Tigers in 2002, and then was traded to the Cubs and Braves before landing back in Detroit two years ago, when he helped the Tigers win an American League pennant. Infante is batting .279 with 74 homers and 421 RBIs over his 12-year career. Hes never played more than 149 games in a season, and missed more than a month last year with an ankle injury that occurred when the Blue Jays Colby Rasmus slid aggressively into his leg. Kam Chancellor Jersey . Brazil will announce a coach on Tuesday to succeed Luiz Felipe Scolari, who resigned after Brazil failed to win the World Cup -- eliminated in a humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany in the semifinals. Cassius Marsh Seahawks Jersey . It was the quickest three-goal sequence in Olympic history, with the latter two coming just eight seconds apart. Kessel, Lamoureux and Kendall Coyne all scored twice for the Americans, and Molly Schaus made 10 saves in her Sochi debut. http://www.footballseahawksfanatics.com/authentic-christine-michael-seahawks-jersey/ . Chris Johnson is ready to help the Titans snap a three-game losing streak if Tennessee and its new offensive co-ordinator can get him the ball more often. "If the running game gets going, I can make plays in the running game and I think we can win these last three games," Johnson said. Brandon Browner Jersey . -- The Chicago Bears say an MRI taken Monday showed Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher suffered no major structural damage to his left knee in a season-ending win at Minnesota. Jon Ryan Seahawks Jersey .J. -- The New York Giants placed starting centre David Baas on injured reserve Wednesday after he sustained his third injury this season.CHICAGO -- If there has been a bright spot to the Chicago Bulls injury-filled season, it has been their defence. It came through again Saturday night, helping the Bulls overcome a 40.7 per cent shooting night to hold the Atlanta Hawks to nearly 20 points below their season average in a 91-84 victory. Opponents are shooting 43 per cent against the Bulls. "We have a defensive system and we work on it a lot," Joakim Noah said. "Its crazy how much we work on it. We work on defence every day." The Hawks, who were averaging 103.2 points, shot 37.2 per cent and were 8 of 28 from 3-point range. "We have a core of guys that understand it and are really good at it," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said about the defence. "We know if we defend and rebound and keep our turnovers down, were going to be in a position to win. Right now, when youre short-handed, thats really what you have to do. Its also what you have to do in every game, even when youre completely healthy." Mike Dunleavy scored 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, and Luol Deng added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls, hitting two free throws with 8.8 seconds left to seal the win. Chicago led most of the way in winning for the fifth time in seven games. Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague scored 16 points apiece for the Hawks. A 3-point attempt by Kyle Korver that would have cut the Bulls lead to 84-82 with 4:18 left was overturned and ruled a shot clock violation upon review. Soon after, DeMarre Carroll was called for an offensive foul when the Hawks trailed 86-79. "That was a big swing, a big change in the game," Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said. Korver extended his NBA record of games with at least one 3-pointer made to 103 straight when he hit the first of his two 3-pointers with 9:59 left in the first quarter. Korver finished with eight points on 3-of-9 shooting. "I just have so much respect for those guys over there, how they continue to play hard every day and just grind and win games like tonight," Korver said. "They just find ways. Its not the prettiest basketball at times, but you have a lot of respect for them." The Hawks tied the game 67-all with 11:12 left on Mike Scotts free throw. It was the first time the Bulls hadnt led since there was 6:19 left in the first quarter.ddddddddddddBut Dunleavy answered with a 3-pointer, Noah scored on a putback and Jimmy Butler made a layup to put the Bulls ahead 74-69 with 8:41 remaining. Atlanta pulled to within one on Teagues layup with 5:38 left, but Dunleavy responded with a jumper and Taj Gibson scored on a dunk for an 84-79 lead. "Mike Dunleavy really had a heck of a second half," Budenholzer said. "Some of them were really well-contested, tough, difficult shots, and give him credit for making them." Carlos Boozer missed his first Bulls game of the season due to a sore right knee. MRI results on the knee were negative and the Bulls are hoping the injury isnt serious. Gibson started in his place. "The big thing is getting everyone back and healthy," Thibodeau said. "Hopefully, Carlos will be short term, which I believe he will be. This is the first time weve had the group relatively whole." Butler and D.J. Augustin each had 11 points, and Gibson and Noah had 10 points and 12 rebounds apiece. Scott scored 12 and Carroll had 10 for Atlanta. The Hawks pulled within one twice late in the third quarter but were unable to pull ahead. The Bulls led 67-64 after three quarters. "It was a close game and we just couldnt find a way," Budenholzer said. "I think we have to be a little smarter down the stretch. We have to compete every possession, every rebound." Deng made a half-court shot at the second-quarter buzzer to give the Bulls a 50-45 lead at the break. Korver had made a 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds left to cut the Bulls lead to 47-45 after they were ahead by as many as 10. The Bulls led 26-18 after the first quarter. Atlanta had scored at least 100 points in 10 of 11 games. The Hawks were playing the second game of a back-to-back. NOTES: Hawks guard John Jenkins (low back pain) missed his sixth straight game. He is expected to also miss the Hawks game Monday against Brooklyn. . Center Pero Antic remained in the Hawks lineup after he scored 16 points in his first career start on Friday against Golden State. . This was the first meeting of the season between the teams. The Bulls went 2-1 against Atlanta last season. 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