Ian Desmond didnt settle on a new team until late February, his puzzling free-agent saga finally ending when he signed a one-year deal with Texas.Now Desmond looks like a bargain for the Rangers -- and a big reason theyre comfortably ahead in the AL West.Desmonds $8 million deal with the Rangers seemed almost humbling after hed rejected a qualifying offer from Washington worth nearly twice that amount. He also had to switch positions, moving from shortstop to the outfield. But Desmond has been outstanding after a slow start, and hes now batting .319 with 15 home runs, 54 RBI and 15 stolen bases.Its off-the-charts incredible. Just the leadership, athleticism, manager Jeff Banister said. I dont want to put any one single player ahead of any others. But you take him out of our lineup and off our team, it has a different look to it.Desmond wasnt the biggest name to change teams last offseason, and he certainly wasnt the most expensive signing, but moves like this can shift the course of a division race if they pan out. Desmond has turned a tough situation into a success story, and Texas has been rewarded for its confidence in him.You look at the slugging numbers, the OPS and what hes done out of the 2-hole for us in runs scored -- has been as good as anybody in our lineup, Banister said. To make the transition to the outfield, has been more than serviceable. He has been really good in center field.Here are a few other offseason acquisitions who have made significant contributions for their new teams:ZACK GREINKE, DIAMONDBACKSThe Diamondbacks signed Greinke to a six-year, $206.5 million contract, and the right-hander got off to an awful start, finishing April with a 5.50 ERA. He eventually settled in and started to look like the pitcher he was last year.He won seven straight starts from May 17 to June 18, and hes now 10-3 with a 3.62 ERA.Hes great, Arizona slugger Paul Goldschmidt said. Hes been pitching for 10-plus years so he knows what hes doing. He had a few rough starts but then he was really, really good for eight, nine, 10. It was a lot of fun to play behind him after being on the other side the last few years.Greinke is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique. The team has set no timetable for his return but hopes it is shortly after the All-Star break. Arizona is well under .500 despite Greinkes efforts.DANIEL MURPHY, NATIONALSAfter his big postseason helped the New York Mets win the National League pennant, Murphy signed a $37.5 million, three-year contract with division-rival Washington. The Nationals now lead the Mets by three games atop the NL East, in part because Murphy is hitting an NL-best .346. The 31-year-old second baseman also has 15 homers and 59 RBI.JOHNNY CUETO, GIANTSCueto had his ups and downs during a brief stint with Kansas City that ended in celebration when the Royals won the World Series. The Giants have little to complain about after signing the right-hander to a $130 million, six-year deal. Hes 13-1 with a 2.47 ERA after pitching his fourth complete game of the season Wednesday night. That victory gave San Francisco the best record in baseball.MARK TRUMBO, ORIOLESAfter going deep twice Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Trumbo led the majors with 26 home runs. He came to Baltimore in a December trade with Seattle, and hes complemented his typical power with a higher-than-usual batting average for the AL East-leading Orioles.FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ, TIGERSIt was easy to be skeptical when Detroit traded for K-Rod, considering the Tigers track record with closers lately. But Rodriguez has 23 saves in 25 chances in 2016 and has generally finished off games without much drama.---AP Sports Writer Bob Baum in Phoenix contributed to this report. Quenton Nelson Hoodie . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Cheap Colts Hoodies Jerseys . Kiriasis and brakeman Franziska Fritz finished two runs in one minute 55.41 seconds -- a mere 0.01 seconds ahead of Meyers and Lolo Jones, who likely bolstered her Olympic hopes by helping give USA-1 a huge push in the second heat. http://www.cheapcoltshoodiesjerseys.com/matthew-adams-hoodie/ . Team physician Dr. Steve Traina performed the surgery Friday. Robinson was injured in a spill underneath the Nuggets basket during the first quarter of Wednesday nights loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. Colts Hoodies Jerseys Sale . Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset. Daurice Fountain Hoodie . Hey!" The lower tier of the School End of Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road was packed solid with a very festive-sounding Chelsea choral section in this particular part of South Africa Road London, W12. Jadeveon Clowney attended the opening of a new Houston Texans teen club at a Houston Boys and Girls Club this week.During the visit he joined a room of teenage girls and a couple of Texans cheerleaders to do a few yoga poses. It was clear that the hulking defensive end should probably stick to his day job as Clowney struggled with balance on most of the poses he attempted, drawing giggles from everyone in the room.The top overall pick in the 2014 draft seemed proud of his effort, even though it was clearly subpar.I do it in the offseason a little bit, so I had to go in there and show them what to do, he said. I had to show them a little bit.The exercise room is part of a facility for teenagers that was built thanks to a $750,000 donation by the Texans. Clowney was happy to participate in the opening because working with inner-city youth is an important cause to him.Its very good for the kids to have somewhere to go after school, he said. When I was growing up ... and getting out of school my mom was going to work, so it was my grandparents that were taking care of me and they couldnt keep up with me. So you know how that ended -- getting into everything.Clowney will also show his support for Houstons Boys and Girls Clubs this weekend during the NFLs My Cause My Cleats campaign. His blue cleats feature a drawing of the Houston skyline with Great futures start here on one shoe and Lend a helping hand on the other. The shoes will be auctioned off and the proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Club.Growing up back home we didnt have a lot of Boys and Girls Clubs and if we did we didnt know much about them, he said. So now that they have them kids can ... see everything theyve got going after school until their parents get off work. So its very important to keep them out of the streets and keep them active in something positive.---JUST FOR KICKS: The Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens have surged into first place in their divisions at least in part because they have perhaps the NFLs most clutch and best kickers this season.NFC North leader Detroits Matt Prater and Baltimores Justin Tucker were selected NFC and AFC special teams players of the week after their latest performances.Prater made a 40-yard field goal as time expired in regulation, breaking a tie with Minnesota in their game on Thanksgiving to give the Lions their sixth win in seven games.Tucker became the ninth player in league history to make three field goals from 50-plus yards in one game, and connected on a fourth kick, in a 19-14 win over Cincinnati to keep the Ravens in a tie with Pittsburgh atop the AFC North with their third win in four games. Tucker has made all 27 of his field goal attempts this season, extending his run to 34 in a row since last year for the sixth-longest streak in league history. He has made all 15 extra point kicks, too.With a chance to tie a game or take a lead in the fourth quarter or overtime, Prater is 25 of 25 in his career.Prater, 21 of 24 on field goals in 2016, has helped the Lions come back from fourth-quarter deficits to win seven games this season.Its been remarkable what hes been able to do, hopefully he can keep going, Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford said. Hopefully we dont have to put him in that situation too many more times, but that unit is doing a heck of a job.dddddddddddd--NOT ENOUGH COOKS: Saints receiver Brandin Cooks didnt hide his annoyance this week after none of Drew Brees 36 passes came his way during a 49-21 victory over Los Angeles last Sunday.This is a very emotional game and every once in a while youve got to express that, the 2014 first-round draft choice said. You have to express what you want. Closed mouths dont get fed.Earlier this week, Cooks wrote, I guess I have to turn into a businessman, in a social media post, the implication being that he was displeased about his role in the offense.Brees wound up completing 28 passes for 310 yards and four TDs, including nine passes to rookie Michael Thomas for 108 yards and two TDs.Brees said Cooks, who had 51 catches for 736 yards and six TDs through the Saints first 10 games, played a key role in New Orleans big day against the Rams. Cooks was the primary receiver on several plays, but coverage rolled toward Cooks, opening up better throws elsewhere, Brees explained.Cooks said, As a competitor, I was frustrated. ... I always want to help more than I feel like I necessarily did in that game.Cooks added that his teammates understood his agitation is not coming from a selfish standpoint, so thats the beautiful part about it. ... They know thats coming from the want to be great, the want to be remembered.---PEYTONS HONOR: Peyton Manning was honored this week by the March of Dimes as its Sportsman of the Year.The retired quarterback and five-time NFL Most Valuable Player was joined at the ceremony in New York by WNBA star Swin Cash, who was recognized as the Sportswoman of the Year by the organization.Pete Bevacqua, CEO of the PGA of America, and George Pyne, founder and CEO of Bruin Sports Capital, received awards, as well.Each year, March of Dimes honors the outstanding achievements of men and women in the sports industry. Past recipients include New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera; NBA Commissioner David Stern; former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue; baseball greats Mickey Mantle and Cal Ripken Jr.; tennis legends Andre Agassi and Venus Williams; basketball Hall of Famers Patrick Ewing and Lisa Leslie; and the U.S. Womens soccer team.---COLLEGIATE BOWL: The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl will be televised by Fox Sports 1 on Jan. 21.The all-star game overseen by the NFL players union will kick off at 4 p.m. ES Tand will be played at the StubHub Center on the campus of California State University Dominguez Hills.The opportunity to partner with the NFLPA and present the Collegiate Bowl on FS1 was something we jumped at, said John Entz, Fox Sports president of production and executive producer. The pre-draft evaluation process drives more and more interest among football fans every year, so were looking forward to being a part of that and covering a competitive game.The fifth edition of the game will have former NFL coaches Mike Martz and Jim Zorn leading each team.---AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner and Sports Writers Kristie Rieken, Larry Lage and Brett Martel contributed.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Stitched NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Outlet Disocunt Football Jerseys China Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys White NFL Jerseys Cheap China NFL Jerseys White ' ' '