MINNEAPOLIS - Ervin Santanas given name was Johan. Brad Boxberger Jersey . This was a fine way to be identified for the right-hander raised in the Dominican Republic and working his way up through the minor leagues.Except there was this other pitcher named Johan Santana who had begun to make a big name for himself with Minnesota.Baseball card after baseball card would come to him from confused autograph seekers, when Santana was just an unproved prospect with the Angels organization. So he decided to make the change in 2003. Enamoured with former NBA star Earvin Johnson and his famous nickname Magic, Santana switched from Johan to Ervin and forever separated himself from the eventual two-time AL Cy Young Award winner.Johan Santana is seven seasons removed from that stellar career with the Twins, so the 32-year-old Ervin Santana wasnt signed to a $55 million, four-year contract to somehow replicate that success. The Twins, in dire need of starting pitching improvement for yet another off-season, would simply welcome more of the steady statistics Ervin Santana has posted over his 10-year major league career.Hes the type of guy that doesnt want to come out of games, general manager Terry Ryan said.Santana has surpassed 200 innings in half of his seasons in the majors, just missing in 2014 with 196 innings for Atlanta. Over the last five years, Santana averaged 12 wins, 207 innings and 164 strikeouts while making 30 or more starts each season. The Twins pursued him a year ago, too, but he held out until March and signed with the Braves for one season and $14.1 million.They had some recruiting advantages, which paid off this time. Right fielder Torii Hunter, who recently returned to his original team, spent five years with Santana with the Angels. He put in a good word. So did a certain former Twins pitcher who lives near Santanas winter home in the Dominican Republic, Francisco Liriano.I always asked him about this team, and he told me a lot of good things about this team. Thats one of the reasons I chose Minnesota, Santana said at his introductory news conference at Target Field on Saturday.Alexi Casilla was another former Twins player and current winter neighbour of Santanas who helped sell him on Minnesota. The Twins didnt need to be sold, particularly with his durability.Work hard. Thats my main thing, Santana said. I always get to the stadium early, work hard and just pitch. I dont try to do too much.Santana will make $13.5 million over each of the next four seasons. The Twins have a 2019 option at $14 million with a $1 million buyout, and that salary for 2019 would become guaranteed if Santana pitches 400 or more innings combined over the 2017 and 2018 seasons, including 200 or more in 2018, and passes a physical exam. The contract also provides for several award bonuses, including $25,000 for an All-Star selection, $50,000 for a Gold Glove and $100,000 for a Cy Young.To make room for Santana on the 40-man roster, first baseman/right fielder Chris Parmelee was designated for assignment.Minnesota gladly made room for Santana in the rotation, too, after ranking next-to-last, last and last in the majors in collective starting pitcher ERA over the last three years.Its obviously a huge upgrade, manager Paul Molitor said. As our interest increased, I got a chance to check out different things about him, his career, his video. Obviously, just tremendous stuff. Custom Diamondbacks Jerseys .com) - P.K. Subbans power-play goal 4:08 into overtime sent the Montreal Canadiens into the All-Star break with a 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. Shelby Miller Diamondbacks Jersey . Ribery terrorized the Schalke defence throughout and put the home side ahead in the 36th minute when he chipped the goalkeeper before stroking the ball into the empty net. The French winger struck again after the interval, combining with Thomas Mueller on the left before firing a deflected shot beyond the helpless Timo Hildebrand in the 55th, as Bayern bounced back from Wednesdays 1-0 loss at FC Basel in the Champions League. http://www.baseballdiamondbacksproshop.com/randy-johnson-diamondbacks-jersey/ . Kyle Denbrook, a soccer player from Saint Marys University, took the CIS male athlete of the week honour. Stanley, a fourth-year business administration student from Charlottetown, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Dalhousie on Friday and tallied again in a 1-0 win over Saint Marys on Sunday. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Hornets are going all out to sign restricted free agent Gordon Hayward. The Hornets have agreed on a maximum offer sheet with Hayward that would pay the small forward $63 million over the next four years, a person close to with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The Utah Jazz would have three days to match the deal once Hayward officially signs. The person commented to the AP on condition of anonymity because Hayward cant officially sign the offer sheet until Thursday when the league lifts its moratorium on signing free agents. The Charlotte Observer was the first to report the news. Williams spent the last two seasons with Utah after six years with the Atlanta Hawks. He started 50 games last season for the Jazz and averaged 9.1 points and 5.1 rebounds. The person also said the Hornets have spoken to representatives for free agents Marvin Williams and Brian Roberts and will meet with them later this week. Williams would give the Hornets another option at forward and Roberts would fill the backup point guard spot behind Kemba Walker. Its unclear at this point if the Jazz would match the offer to keep Hayward or consider a sign-and-trade with Charlotte. Hayward, who visited with the Hornets this week, averaged 16.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals last season for Utah. Hayward has spent all four seasons in the NBA with the Jazz. He shot 41.3 per cent from the field and 30 per cent from 3--point range in 77 starts. Paul Goldschmidt Jersey. Haywards offensive production has increased with each season in the league, going from 5.4 points per game as a rookie to 11.8 in 2011 and 14.1 in 2012. If the Hornets are able to land Hayward, its unclear what that might mean for small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or shooting guard Gerald Henderson. The 6-foot-8, 220-pound Hayward is capable of playing both positions. Kidd-Gilchrist, the No. 2 pick in the 2012 draft, is considered a strong defender but trying to revamp a hitch in his jump shot. Henderson hasnt emerged as a dominant shooter as the team hoped when they signed him to a three-year, $18 million contract extension last year. The Hornets are high on small forward Jeff Taylor, their second-round pick in 2012, who is coming off a torn Achilles tendon. Hayward played his first three seasons in the league with centre Al Jefferson, who became the focal point of Charlottes offence last year and earned third-team All-NBA honours. After a slow start in free agency, the Hornets are picking up the pace. The 6-foot-9, 237-pound Williams, the No. 2 pick in the 2005 draft, played at North Carolina where he helped the Tar Heels win a national championship as a freshman and could be a backup option if they dont land Hayward. Roberts has spent the past two seasons with New Orleans. He started 42 games last season averaging 9.4 points and 3.3 assists while shooting 94 per cent from the free-throw line. 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