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KISSIMMEE, Fla. Larry Johnson Chiefs Jersey . -- Right-hander Julio Teheran and the Atlanta Braves agreed to terms on a six-year, $32.4 million contract on Friday with a club option for the 2020 season. The deal with the 23-year-old Teheran was another move by the team to lock up a key young player on a long-term deal. First baseman Freddie Freeman, 24, agreed to $135 million, eight-year deal on Feb. 5, the same day the team announced a two-year, $13.3 million deal with right fielder Jason Heyward, 24. Braves announced the agreement with Teheran on the day pitchers and catchers had their first workout in spring training. Braves general manager Frank Wren said Teheran is "one of the best young pitchers in the National League and one of our core of players we expect to be together for a number of years." If the Braves exercise their $12 million option for the 2020 season, Teheran will earn more than $44 million over the next seven years. Teheran, who had been regarded as a top prospect, realized those expectations in 2013, when he became an important member of the rotation as a rookie. He was 14-8 with a 3.20 ERA and finished fourth in voting for the NL Rookie of the Year. "I couldnt wait to see him pitch last year," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. "He had a tougher time pitching in Triple-A." Teheran led all rookies with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.78, ranking seventh among all National League starting pitchers. Teheran received a $1 million signing bonus and will earn $800,000 in 2014. His annual salaries will go up to $1 million in 2015, $3.3 million in 2016, $6.3 million in 2017, $8 million in 2018 and $11 million in 2019. Teheran joins Kris Medlen and Mike Minor as leaders of a young rotation that lost Tim Hudson and Paul Maholm to free agency. Brandon Beachy is expected to earn the fourth spot in the rotation as he continues his comeback from 2012 elbow ligament-replacement surgery. Beachy, a right-hander, had a follow-up procedure to clean up the right elbow last season. Gonzalez said that he is looking for someone to take over as a leader of the staff. "Its early but I feel good about this team," Gonzalez said. "We lost Huddy (Hudson) but we still had the ERA tile last year. I like what we have and everybody is ready." Left-hander Alex Wood and veteran Freddy Garcia are expected to lead the competition for the final spot in the rotation until free-agent signee Gavin Floyd completes his recovery from elbow surgery. The Braves expect Floyd to be ready to pitch as early as May. "Alex Wood helped us win the division last year," Gonzalez said. "I am comfortable with what we have coming back this year. You can never have too much pitching." NOTES: Braves special assistant to the general manager Jim Fregosi, 71, passed away in Miami on Friday. Gonzalez expressed his appreciation for Fregosi who managed four teams during his 53-year professional baseball career. "This is a day of mixed emotions," Gonzalez said. "We lost one of our family members.". Floyd has impressed Gonzalez so far. "He looks like hes ready," Gonzalez said. "The way he throws in batting practice, its like hes never been away." Floyd was 0-4 in five starts for the White Sox last season. Mike Quick Eagles Jersey . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. Wilbert Montgomery Eagles Jersey . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. http://www.nflchampsshop.com/BUFFALO-BILLS-OJ-SIMPSON-JERSEY/ .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play.TORONTO - When Patrick Patterson learned he would be making his first start as a member of the Raptors just prior to Monday nights game he wasnt exactly caught off guard by the news. With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. Although it likely wasnt an easy sell, Dwane Casey and the coaching staff made the decision to rest Johnson, who had not missed a game due to injury in nearly two years, opening the door for his backup. "I started in Houston so its not new," said Patterson, downplaying his role in Torontos 108-101 home win over the Pelicans after scoring a season-best 22 points. "Its just all about making sure I have a positive role and I know my role on the team… making sure Im a significant part of our teams success." Since coming over in the seven-player trade from Sacramento in early December, Patterson has seen his role increase steadily, earning the trust of his coach and becoming the Raptors most reliable reserve. After Johnson was ruled out, Casey expressed concern about disrupting the chemistry of his second unit by removing a key cog in Patterson, however the forwards recent play made the decision an easy one. "I thought the matchup with (Anthony) Davis was a good one for him," Casey said of Patterson, who has scored in double figures 13 times over his last 20 games, averaging 12.0 points and 5.7 rebounds, shooting 53 per cent from the field in under 24 minutes per contest during that stretch. "(Patterson) was able to stretch the defence and give us some offensive punch." Patterson gave the Raptors a lift where they needed it most. Toronto had been outscored in the opening quarter of the last four games, all on the road, before returning home Monday and getting off to a rare but crucial quick start against Davis and the Pelicans. Patterson - along with Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan - was one of three Raptors to score seven points in the first frame, knocking down both of his shots and helping his team take a 31-20 lead into the second period. Thats where Pattersons presence was missed, as Torontos bench came in and squandered a 15-point advantage. Led by reserve guard Tyreke Evans, New Orleans ripped off a 26-11 run to end the half and would go into the break knotted up with Toronto at 49 points apiece. "For whatever reason we are losing leads with our second unit, what its doing is putting a lot of pressure on our starters and putting them in big minute situations," said Casey with both DeRozan and Lowry hovering around 40 minutes on Monday. "I think they just have to get their rhythm back. Taking (Patterson) off the second unit hurts them a bit, but still we have to gett a rhythm with that second unit so we can rest our starters. Jerry Rice 49ers Jersey. ." Heavy mileage has taken its toll on Johnson. The Raptors forward turned his ankle in a win over the Magic late last month - the most recent in a series of ankle injuries - and, to character, had played and started in all five games since. He could have done the same Monday if necessary, Casey indicated before the game, but with the all-star break around the corner and his team poised to make a playoff run over the next couple months, Johnson finally got some much-needed rest. "Its tough to replace a guy like Amir," DeRozan said of Johnson, who had not missed a game to injury since Mar. 5, 2012 (he was suspended for one game last year and sat out the previous season finale). "Everybody has to step up and try to do a little more (without him). Everybody understands their role and once they [saw] Amir [was] out, [they had] to step up and hold down the fort until he gets back." "Were deep," said Lowry, coming off his best game since before the road trip, scoring 19 points to go along with 12 assists and seven boards, five of them offensive. "Thats how we play, thats how we roll. 15 deep." Patterson started six games with the Kings earlier this season and has made 54 starts during his four year career, most of them as a member of the Rockets. With Patterson stepping into the first unit, Tyler Hansbrough - who has fallen out of favour since returning from an ankle injury last month - took advantage of the opportunity he was given off the bench, scoring 12 points and grabbing six rebounds in 14 minutes. "Tyler and Patrick both carried us tonight," Casey said. "I thought they were huge in their minutes." "Tyler came in and was a pro. He brings physicality to the game that we need." Patterson and Hansbrough shared the assignment of neutralizing Davis, the Pelicans second-year forward, who has been a revelation in the Western Conference this season. Davis scored just two points, hitting one of his six shots in his first appearance at the Air Canada Centre exactly a year ago Monday but hes come a long way since then. The first-time all-star is one of five players averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds and the only one doing so while shooting over 50 per cent from the field. Hes also on pace to become just the fifth player since 1973 to lead the NBA in blocks in his first or second season. "Anthony Davis is one of the most skilled big guys in the league," Casey said before the game, comparing him to a young Kevin Garnett. Davis was glued to the bench in foul trouble late in the third as the Raptors made their run and finished the game with 19 points and seven rebounds while Evans, 24 hours after being bench for disciplinary reasons, had 23 points and 10 assists off the bench for New Orleans. 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