tractions and focusing on what they can control. That will certainly pay o

CLEVELAND -- Only hours before this seasons home opener, the Indians guaranteed Jason Kipnis will be around for more than a few more. Matt Adams Nationals Jersey . The All-Star second baseman agreed to a $52.5 million, six-year contract on Friday, binding him to the Indians through the 2019 season. The deal includes a club option for 2020. Kipnis signed the contract one day after turning 27, giving him a birthday gift of wealth and security hell never forget. "Its an amazing feeling to get something done," said Kipnis. "I wanted to stay here. Im excited about being here." Kipnis is the latest core player to be signed to a long-term deal by the Indians, who reached agreements with outfielder Michael Brantley (4 years, $25 million) and catcher Yan Gomes (6 years, $23 million) in the past two months. "Its the ownership, the top, showing us that they believe in us, that weve got the guys who can win games now and we want them stick around," Kipnis said. "Im excited about be a part of that." Kipnis had already signed a one-year deal worth $554,900 in the major leagues and $305,700 in the minors. The new deal calls for a $1 million signing bonus and salaries of $2 million this year, $4 million in 2015, $6 million in 2016, $9 million in 2017, $13.5 million in 2018 and $14.5 million in 2019. The Indians option for 2020 is at $16.5 million with a $2.5 million buyout. He gets a hotel suite on road trips. And he would get a $500,000 payment if hes traded. Kipnis agreement covers this season, all three of his arbitration-eligible years and extends through at least the first two seasons after he could have become a free agent. The Indians and Kipnis agents had been negotiating a deal for months. "This was our third attempt at it, so its good to finally be able to get it done," general manager Chris Antonetti said . "Its a complicated thing. You have to figure out what the right value is, what the appropriate way is to share risk, and this was the time we were able to do it." Kipnis developed into one of the ALs rising stars last season, batting .284 with 17 homers and 84 RBIs in 149 games. He also stole 30 bases, scored 86 runs and led the Indians in runs, hits, RBIs and steals. Kipnis has endeared himself to the Indians, manager Terry Francona and Cleveland fans with his hustling, win-at-all-costs playing style. That grit on display Wednesday night in the ninth inning in Oakland, when after twice failing to move two runners over with a bunt, Kipnis beat out a fielders choice, stole second and scored the go-ahead run as the Indians rallied for a 6-4 win in the second game of a doubleheader. "That was Kip in a bottle," Francona said. "Thats the way Kip plays. Youd see a lot of guys maybe not get the bunt down, strike out, get mad because we asked him to bunt and we lose." After going 92-70 last season and making the AL playoffs for the first time since 2007, the Indians have shown a strong commitment to winning -- now. That hasnt always been the case in Cleveland, where fans have seen the front office trade star pitchers CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee before they could leave as free agents. These new deals, coming a year after the Indians signed free agents Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn to multiyear contracts, are a signal the club intends to compete for a championship. "Its so awesome," Swisher said. "This is not a one-and-done organization anymore. The moves that were making are all the right moves." The signings, too, have changed outside perception of the Indians, who havent won a World Series title since 1948. "When I was on other teams in coming to Cleveland, if you didnt sweep, it was a bad road trip," said Swisher, who previously played with the Yankees, Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics. "For us now, people are realizing that when you come in here, were going to fight for it. I think last years record speaks for itself, but that wasnt our goal, to go out and have one great, amazing season and then just fall off. Everything is going in the right direction." Joe Ross Nationals Jersey . Cammalleri suffered a concussion in the Flames 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. The 31-year-old forward did not travel with the team to Carolina. Wilmer Difo Nationals Jersey . The trade deadline is Monday, Mar. 2 at 3pm et/Noon pt. TRADES COMPLETED SINCE OCT. 1, 2014: Feb. 15, 2015 Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: F Olli Jokinen, F Brendan Leipsic, 1st Round Pick (2015) Nashville Predators acquire: D Cody Franson, F Mike Santorelli Feb. https://www.cheapnationals.com/997r-frank-robinson-jersey-nationals.html . Perhaps as important, shes sending a message to 17-year-old gold medal favourite Sara Takanashi of Japan. Iraschko-Stolz relegated Takanashi, who has 10 World Cup victories this season, to second place in two of three training jumps Saturday.It was the first time in two years that I was in the opening day of training camp meeting of rookies, veterans, coaches and support staff. It is by far the longest and most boring of meetings that CFL players will have in a season. Policies are introduced by every department head and introductions of everyone who works in the organization are done. It is a marathon of a meeting but it has to be done. The last time I was in this meeting, I was standing in the front of the room doing the introductions. This time, I was sitting in the chairs taking notes on my Ipad. I was totally excited to be in this meeting as a guest coach with the Toronto Argonauts. I took notes throughout because I believe you always can learn and get information from anyone and any situation. It was general manager Jim Barker who set the tone of the meeting and also what the Toronto Argonauts have been about the past few seasons. The words are very similar to my beliefs in a lot of ways and I wanted to share them and talk about how the Argos are great at following those words and the leaderships mantra from the top. "The Argos are about adapting, we dont accept it, we embrace it." These words were said as Barker talked about the facilities they would be using for training camp and for an undisclosed time after that. "All we care about is winning Grey Cups. We get paid to win Grey Cups." is what Barker said. The Argos more than any other team in the CFL have had to do what is one of my favorite quotes for football: "adapt, improvise, overcome". On Christmas Eve 2011, the Argos meeting trailer and coaches office burnt down. During the 2012 and 2013 seasons, the team had to have meetings in one of the buildings on the Erindale campus of the University of Toronto. They would be in whatever rooms were available and would sometimes change from day to day. The Argos are also one of a few teams that basically has to go on the road every week and move the massive amount of equipment to the Rogers Centre. It is a long process and immediately after the game, you see a large cube van outside the Argos locker room and the equipment is moved back to the facilities. Training camp at York University this season was another process of adapting for the whole organization. I believe the team has done a tremendous job of worrying about controlling what you can control. The coaches were, and some still are, living in the dorms and are housed on two floors. Wires taped on all walls lead to the makeshift video department office. A huge server and some computers were housed in there and helped the coaches get set up to watch practicce and game video. Erick Fedde Jersey. Vince Magri and Anthony Ierullo did an outstanding job of getting players and coaches video access. Offensively, we watched the games in the head coachs suite which had people (most of the times, yours truly) laying on the ground because we didnt have enough seats and a good view of the video. Player meetings were in classrooms which were very good for the players and the coaches. The only difference is that the coaches computers would have to be uploaded and moved in and out for every meeting. Team meetings and special teams meetings were held in a large multi-purpose room in the basement that had large bed sheets stretched out so the video would be able to be seen against the walls. The food was tremendous and the York University people were very accommodating. Taping was done in a large room off of the cafeteria which the training staff made a very business-like temporary training facility. Head athletic therapist Scott Shannon and his staff obviously followed Barkers words and found a way to adapt. I asked the communications staff where they had an office and they shrugged their shoulders and said that they didnt and just stayed in the cafeteria with their laptops because the internet was strongest there as they worked away preparing their hand-outs for the day. Danny Webb and his equipment staff made a nice locker room out of the York football complex and provided every request for the players. The previously mentioned cube van was next to the field and served as storage for all the football equipment. Another first meeting note I wrote down was of Dannys, "we are here to help in any way, just ask us. Without you guys, I dont have a job." The coaches did a great job of teaching every day and the players also embraced the long days of training camp. Coach Milanovich and the staff did a great job of establishing York as their home. The Argos will be on the move again in August to a more permanent facility at Downsview Park in a partnership with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. The move will provide stability as well as a location that the coaches and players can now plan on finding a place to live close by if they have not done so already. There is a lot of football left and the Eastern champs from last year will certainly be in contention at the end of the season. The thing I took from the spending time at training camp (besides a lot of good football ideas) was that the team does a great job of eliminating distractions and focusing on what they can control. That will certainly pay off for them as the season progresses. ' ' '