ster City in a five-goal thriller, Juventus were triumphing in the Turin d

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Baseballs annual gathering of general managers began Monday when $14.1 million qualifying offers were turned down by all 13 free agents who received them from their former teams, a group that included Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Napoli and Stephen Drew of the World Series champion Boston Red Sox. Three New York Yankees also said no thanks: Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson and Hiroki Kuroda. The others turning down the offers were Atlantas Brian McCann, Cincinnatis Shin-Soo Choo, Clevelands Ubaldo Jimenez, Kansas Citys Ervin Santana, St. Louis Carlos Beltran, Seattles Kendrys Morales and Texas Nelson Cruz. "I dont think its that particularly surprising that all the offers were turned down across baseball," Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said. New York Mets GM Sandy Alderson interpreted the turndowns as an indicator a bull market is possible. "That ought to tell you a little bit about their expectations," he said. If a player who turned down the offer signs with a new team, his former club would receive an extra amateur draft pick at the end of the first round next June. All 22 players given qualifying offers have said no during two offseasons under the new system. "When we made the qualifying offers, we did not expect anyone to accept. We would have been happy if any of them did," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. Cashman was an early arrival at the sessions, with some GMs due to check in on Monday night. In addition to early talks with agents and trade feelers, GMs will hold rules discussions, such as whether there should be any limitations on bowling over catchers. Owners then arrive for their fall meeting on Thursday morning, with expanded instant replay on the agenda. A baseball official familiar with the deliberations, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said management probably would approve the additional video review by umpires in phases. The go-ahead to spend the funds probably will occur Thursday. Approval of the rules likely would be put off until the January owners meeting. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no statements were authorized. For expanded replay to start next season, agreements with the World Umpires Association and Major League Baseball Players Association would have to be reached. "Both parties are working diligently to iron out every possible scenario that could occur with a replay," WUA President Joe West said. These meetings usually are the spark for trades and signings later in the off-season. The pace figures to increase during the winter meetings, to be held in nearby Lake Buena Vista from Dec. 9-12. "These meetings will probably be mostly about just getting information," Cherington said. "Id be surprised if anything actually happens in the next three days." With many clubs seeking top starting pitching, Tampa Bay is expected at some point to trade 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner David Price, who is eligible for free agency after the 2015 season. Detroits Max Scherzer, favoured to win a Cy Young on Wednesday, can be a free agent in 12 months and the Tigers may try to gauge what he would bring in return. Texas would consider offers for middle infielders Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus to clear a starting spot for Jurickson Profar. After missing the playoffs for just the second time in 19 years, the Yankees figure to be a central figure in the market. Cano, an All-Star second baseman, has been seeking a 10-year deal in excess of $300 million. Re-signing Cano is a top priority, but at some point the Yankees would have to move on. "Those type of players dictate the dance steps," Cashman said. "So well do the dance as long as we can but, yeah, at some point you cant do that forever. But were in the very front end of this thing, so the music hasnt even started yet." While New York wants to get its payroll under next years $189 million threshold for the luxury tax, the Yankees may not be able to unless Alex Rodriguez serves a major part of his 211-game suspension for violations of baseballs drug agreement and labour contract. The players union filed a grievance to overturn the penalty, and arbitrator Fredric Horowitz is expected to rule during the off-season. New York would be happy to save much of Rodriguezs $25 million salary if he misses a significant part of the season, but the Yankees would need to find a third baseman. "I have question marks clearly with the controversy at third. I have a question mark at short with Derek Jeter coming back from his ankle, a free agent in Cano," Cashman said. "So ultimately, I need to look and be open-minded to improving aspects when I can." With more cash available because of the increase in national broadcast contracts, more teams could be bidders. After cutting payroll by about 33 per cent over two years, the Mets may be ready to spend. And they could be interested in some of the players who turned down qualifying offers, because they wouldnt forfeit their first-round draft pick -- the top 10 selections in the opening round are protected, and those clubs would lose their second-round slot. "The fact that we only have to give up a second-round pick may give us a little bit of an edge," Alderson said. "Well see." He even joked about his newfound financial flexibility. "I was upstairs stacking our money," he said. "Dont get excited. They were all fives." Cheap Air Max Plus Uk .com) - Bayern Munich winger Xherdan Shaqiri is expected to miss the next two weeks because of a thigh injury. Air Max Plus Uk Online . Not because it was right, but because referees werent allowed to determine it was wrong. http://www.airmaxplusuk.com/. George Hill had 13 points and seven rebounds for the Pacers, who stayed atop the overall NBA standings despite losing twice on their West Coast trip. Los Angeles kept it close into the second half before the Pacers finished an easy win over the injury-riddled Lakers, who have lost five straight. Air Max Plus Uk . And by all indications, the team is expected to select phenom Connor McDavid with their selection. The Buffalo Sabres, who were knocked down to the second overall pick after finishing with the worst regular season record, are expected to take the other generational player in Jack Eichel. Cheap Air Max Plus Free Shipping . The Montreal Alouettes announced Tuesday that they have acquired the return specialist from Calgary, as well as the Stampeders fifth-round draft pick in the 2014 CFL Canadian Draft.As Manchester United were edging Manchester City in a five-goal thriller, Juventus were triumphing in the Turin derby and Barcelona squeaked home 1-0 at the Nou Camp, thousands of miles away in California something far more soccer-significant was occurring. The post-match fireworks were purchased. Final preparations were in place. The FIFA president was in town. It was April 6, 1996. Spartan Stadium, the home of San Jose State University, was about to play host to the inaugural match in Major League Soccer when the hometown Clash took on D.C. United in front of a sold-out crowd approaching 32,000. You have to trace it all the way back to American Independence Day, 1988 for when the first MLS seeds were sown. This was the day the US beat back other bids, including one from Brazil, for the rights to host the 1994 World Cup finals. Those rights came with a caveat, one condition from the world governing body: FIFA mandated the United States Soccer Federation to structure a top-flight league. Easier said than done. The year before those 1994 World Cup finals, which eventually would go on to draw a record number of fans, MLS hired its first employee - Mark Abbott. A lawyer by trade, Abbotts soccer connection came via a law colleague, Alan Rothenberg, who was also the president of the USSF. With Rothenberg appointed as CEO of USA 94, it was left to Abbott to draw up MLSs constitution. Then, in his spare time, Abbott criss-crossed the nation in the search for founding investors. A total of 10 clubs took part in that inaugural season. D.C. United, defeated 1-0 during the season opener in San Jose, would eventually go on and be crowned champions when they beat the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 in the first MLS Cup. Saturday afternoon in Seattle, MLSs 19th season gets underway when the Sounders, a club like the Whitecaps celebrating their 40th-anniversary, entertain the current champions, Sporting Kansas City. To show the measure of how far MLS has journeyed in the intervening years, MLS Cup 1996, which was played in Foxboro, Massachusetts, attracted a crowd of just over 35,000. Today, the Sounders claim that same amount of supporters in season ticket holders. This is not to say that MLS has not had its share of let downs and disappointments. The leagues worst moment happened just ahead of the 2002 season with contraction occurring and gone were the Miami Fusion and the Tampa Bay Mutiny. Long gone, though, are the days MLS teams were merely tenants in NFL buildings - begging their landlords to go easy on the rent and allow them access to the stadiums to play matches on days and at a time of day which were most preferable to attracting in the fans the league so desperately needed. Like all sports teams who look to build on the previous seasons accomplishments, MLS will, as well, in 2014. Nobody needs reminding that we are in a World Cup year and the mommentum those previous tournaments have provided the league.dddddddddddd As it did for South Africa 2010, MLS will shut down for the opening fortnight of group games this June. During this time, the league has mandated each of its clubs, along with the players to be active in their communities. One of Toronto FCs newest designated players, Jermain Defoe, was part of Englands squad for their World Cup warm-up friendly against Denmark at Wembley in midweek. You can be guaranteed that, come the conclusion of Brazil 2014, a number of other players will make the transition to MLS. The most famous of the class of South Africa 2010 to do just that was Thierry Henry, who went into that World Cup still a Barcelona player. Three days after the World Cup final, Henry was introduced as a member of the New York Red Bulls (who visit the Whitecaps on Saturday, live on TSN at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt). This year is also a pivotal one for soccer in Canada and not just for our three MLS clubs. In January, the Canadian Soccer Association announced it will bid to host the 2026 World Cup finals. In August, we host the FIFA U-20 Womens World Cup finals and, in April, the Ottawa Fury kick off their inaugural NASL campaign. As for our three MLS clubs, Toronto FC have set the bar awfully high. Whilst they sit out the opening weekends fixtures and have a final week of preparation before opening their season in Seattle next Saturday, nothing short of a playoff berth will suffice. With new head coaches at the helm in Vancouver and Montreal, expectations are less lofty. The so-called opinion makers across the league have already written off their chances to make the post-season. However, thats on paper and we all know matches are won and lost on the pitch. Flying under the radar could work to their advantage. As MLS has blossomed and flourished over the years, it has given rise to allow the soccer-playing kids right across North America to dream and believe that they, one day, can fulfil their childhood ambitions. Tell Patrice Bernier when he was a prospect in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League that one day he would share a flight with the 1993 Stanley Cup-winning captain of the Montreal Canadiens, Guy Carbonneau. The Impact left for Dallas yesterday morning where they open their season on Saturday night. Bernier is now the captain of a club that just so happen to play in one of the best attended leagues in all of world football. Then, share a thought for Matt Besler, who will lead the MLS Cup holders Sporting KC out onto the pitch in Seattle on Saturday afternoon. During that inaugural MLS season in 1996, Sporting KC were known as the Kansas City Wiz. Playing their matches out of the NFL Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium , where a nine-year-old Besler served as a ballboy. You can reach and follow Noel Butler at:Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca and @TheSoccerNoel on Twitter ' ' '