DETROIT - Max Scherzer was ready for all the questions — and he doesnt seem to mind that his contract status is such a big topic as spring training approaches. "I figured you guys wanted to talk about it, but this is the perfect time, during the off-season, when were not playing baseball," Scherzer said. Scherzer was at Comerica Park on Thursday for the start of the Detroit Tigers winter caravan. He recently agreed to a one-year, $15,525,000 deal with the Tigers, avoiding arbitration but leaving plenty of questions still unanswered about his future. Scherzer, last years AL Cy Young Award winner, can become a free agent after this season. He says he has no problem fielding questions about his future now, before spring training starts. By the time opening day rolls around, though, hell be focused on pitching. So theres a sense the clock is ticking if the Tigers want to lock up their star right-hander before he reaches free agency. Detroit signed ace Justin Verlander to a $180 million, seven-year deal shortly before last season, avoiding the prospect of Verlander testing the open market. But Verlander was two seasons away from free agency. Scherzer has only one more to go. "Every player wants to be a free agent," Scherzer said. "At the same time, you realize weve got a good thing here in Detroit." The Tigers have won three straight AL Central titles, and Scherzer went 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA last season, winning the Cy Young two years after Verlander did. General manager Dave Dombrowski didnt offer many specifics about the status of negotiations with Scherzer, but he left no doubt about how the organization feels about the 29-year-old pitcher. "I would not characterize our discussion as strong, weak, anything other than we are hopeful that wed like to have him in the organization for an extended time," Dombrowski said. "I know he has expressed a desire that hed like to stay here. Hopefully that leads to a position where something can happen." A couple recent deals have given Scherzer a sense of the type of contract that could await him. Clayton Kershaw, a two-time Cy Young winner who is four years younger than Scherzer, reached a $215 million, seven-year agreement to stay with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Japanese star Masahiro Tanaka came to terms with the New York Yankees for $155 million over seven years. "Owners are making more money, and therefore players are going to make more money," Scherzer said. "You have new TV money coming in. Thats good for everybody involved. Its win-win for the owners and for the players." Scherzer says his arm feels good, and that hell keep working to improve. He said his curveball can still progress, for example. "Theres always things you can tinker with in spring training. Its a great time to practice and try new things," he said. The question is whether this might be his final season in Detroit, but thats not a prospect Scherzer is too worked up about right now. "I love it here in Detroit. This is a great team, weve got so much talent, weve been together for so long, and Im comfortable," Scherzer said. "Obviously this is a place I want to play, and thats why I said hopefully we can get something done before spring training." Replica Nike Air Max 1 . - San Diego Padres centre fielder Cameron Maybin is going to be out two to three months after rupturing his left biceps tendon during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. Nike Air Max 1 2022 .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks take aim at their longest winning streak of the season on Sunday when they host the Calgary Flames in a battle at the United Center. https://www.cheapairmax1store.com/. The Brazilian heads into Saturday afternoons race coming off a close runner-up finish to Ryan Hunter-Reay in the Indianapolis 500. Nike Air Max 1 2021 . Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel also accused Pistorius of tailoring his testimony to fit the evidence at the scene. Pistorius denied the accusations. Nel alleged that the Olympic runner changed his aim with his 9 mm pistol to ensure that he hit Steenkamp as she fell back against a magazine rack in a toilet cubicle. Cheap Nike Air Max 1 . After falling 5-0 on home ice in a game that could have tied them for second in the wild card standings, Washington head coach Adam Oates had some strong words for Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin.PHILADELPHIA -- A rare morning start didnt bother the Flyers, who jumped out over a sluggish Jets team that couldnt get going until it was too late. The Jets didnt just lose the game. Evander Kane left the game in the second period and did not return. He sustained a lower body injury in the first period during a collision with Braydon Coburn. Scott Hartnell opened the scoring 48 seconds in and Steve Mason stopped all but one shot as Philadelphia skated to a 2-1 victory over Winnipeg on Friday. As soon as he got the ice for his first shift, Hartnell found an unattended puck in front of the Jets net and immediately slapped it past Ondrej Pavelec to put the Flyers up, 1-0. "I just shot it as hard as I could," Hartnell said. "Ill take it. Its nice on your first shift, right in the slot theres a little present waiting for you there." Mason turned away 25 shots in the matinee that began at 11:30 a.m., including an impressive pad save on Matt Halischuk on a 2-on-1 chance in the second period. He improved to 3-0-1 in his career against the Jets (12-12-4). The Flyers (11-12-2) won their fifth straight game at home after dropping their previous two on the road at Florida and Tampa Bay. "Its huge," Mason said. "Our Florida effort was terrible. Both games were lacklustre, so to come home and get a big win before we go on the road for (12) days is a step in the right direction." Both Flyers goals came off Winnipeg turnovers. Hartnells score was the Flyers lone goal in a dominating opening period in which they outshot the Jets 13-2. "Morning game, obviously the first period was one where we werent engaged in the game," Winnipeg coach Claude Noel said. "You dont know what to expect. ... Obviously it wasnt a great situation." Sean Couturier had a short-handed breakaway opportunity in the first period that Pavelec stopped with a right pad save. But in the second he once again forced a Jets turnover on the penalty kill, this time beating Paavelec on a breakaway for his second goal of the year.dddddddddddd Couturier also played a big role on the Flyers penalty kill that held the Jets without a goal in six power-play opportunities. "I was really impressed with (Couturiers) effort," Mason said. "He stepped up his game." Michael Frolik finally put the Jets on the scoreboard with 7:07 left in the third when he slipped one by Mason in front of a crowded net. Peppered with 34 shots, Pavelec made 32 saves but fell to 7-4-1 lifetime against the Flyers. The Flyers, who entered with a power-play goal in eight consecutive games, also failed to score on four tries. They opened the second period with 1:25 of 5-on-3 time but couldnt manage a shot while up two men. Philadelphia has yet to score a 5-on-3 goal this season. "The 5-on-3 wasnt good," coach Craig Berube said. "Got to execute better and come up together. You cant be dumping (the puck) in on a 5-on-3. You got to do a better job. They know that." The loss snapped Winnipegs five-game winning streak against Eastern Conference teams and was just its second defeat in Philadelphia in eight games. "We just werent very good," Noel said. "Was that an early morning game? I dont know. That would be a poor excuse, because theyre ready to play." The win was an important one for the Flyers, who are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, but begin a six-game road trip Saturday night in Nashville. "Flying up to Canada, down south in Texas, were gonna have to get our rest and do the right things," Hartnell said. "Weve played solid on the road except for our last two games, and weve got to continue that and make this the best road trip of the year." NOTES: Flyers captain Claude Girouxs points streak ended at six games. ... Fridays meeting was the second of two between the teams this season. The Jets won in a shootout in Winnipeg 3-2 on Nov. 15. ... The Jets six-game road swing continues against the New York Rangers on Monday. ' ' '
