Allgemeines » with two big games that night.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Big league general managers walked under seven palm trees and across the sun-splashed red stone courtyard of the Sonoran Desert resort where they had spent four days. Pulling their wheelie bags as guitar music played on speakers, they passed a sign that explained Montelucia, part of the hotels name, was Spanish for mountain of light.While no trades were completed at the first meeting of the offseason, many found the session illuminating: a constellation of stars are in play.Detroit will listen to offers for pitcher Justin Verlander, first baseman Miguel Cabrera, second baseman Ian Kinsler, right fielder J.D. Martinez and designated hitter Victor Martinez.The Chicago White Sox would deal ace pitcher Chris Sale for the right price.Pittsburgh outfielder Andrew McCutchen and New York Yankees catcher Brian McCann are available.All All-Stars.I know that magnitude. Of course I do. Thats why we chose to be transparent, said Al Avila, GM of the payroll-paring Tigers. We chose to tell the players the possibility of things happening.When to make a swap is one of the key factors.In other deals that weve done, weve ended up getting as much if not more around the trade deadline than we would have in the prior offseason, because at the trade deadline theres fewer players available, Pirates GM Neal Huntington said as he left Thursday. Theres more angst about competing.Many of the sports biggest agents also attended the session, eager to provide clubs with the latest statistics designed to present their clients in the best light. Scott Boras came up with a new acronym to describe former All-Star closer Greg Holland, rehabbing from Tommy John surgery in October 2015.Everybody wants the help pitcher, the High Level Performance Pitcher, he said. Weve got our HLPP algorithm, and these guys create value.For some teams, leaving the comfort of their offices is a chore.Its a necessary evil, Yankees GM Brian Cashman said. You fly out here, meet with everybody as much as you possibly can, go through your administrative meetings with MLB and fly home.There was a little news on the final day. R.A. Dickey, a 42-year-old knuckleballer, became the first of the 158 free agents to change teams, agreeing to a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves that guarantees $8 million. St. Louis outfielder Matt Holliday became the final free agent when he and the Cardinals agreed to waive the provision in his contract that called for his $17 million option for 2017 to become guaranteed if he finished in the top 10 in MVP voting.Higher-profile players in a relatively weak free-agent class are likely to take their time before striking deals, a group that includes closers Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon; outfielders Jose Bautista, Yoenis Cespedes, Dexter Fowler and Mark Trumbo; and designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion.Hoping to retain Cespedes, Mets GM Sandy Alderson would like a resolution by the end of the winter meetings, scheduled for Dec. 5-8 in National Harbor, Maryland.White Sox GM Rick Hahn said he revisited trade discussions that began ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline for non-waiver deals and it was now time for regrouping, prioritizing things and then following up in the coming weeks leading up to the winter meetings.Theres been a lot of speculation about us, so a lot of the clubs are checking in and checking the veracity of those claims, he said.McCutchen, a five-time All-Star, is coming off a subpar season and is owed $14 million next year as part of a deal that includes a $14.75 million club option for 2018 with a $1 million buyout. Teams sense opportunity.They recognize that we havent been adverse to moving guys as their contract nears expiration. Its a part of how we believe we need to do things to continue to be competitive and continue to give ourselves a shot to win, Huntington said. If they see his name out there, they do what we do. If a really good players name gets popped out there, we make a call just to make sure we do our due diligence and to see if there might be a fit.After helping the Cubs win their first World Series title since 1908, Chicago president of baseball operations Theo Epstein anticipates an easier time recruiting players.We might not need to send out a video now, he said. People are probably sick of seeing us on TV. Dru Samia Womens Jersey . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. Cris Carter Youth Jersey . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. http://www.thevikingsshoponline.com/Youth-Fran-Tarkenton-Vikings-Jersey/ . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. Adam Thielen Vikings Jersey . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Adam Thielen Womens Jersey . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Its been 15 years since Muffet McGraw and Notre Dame were No. 1 in the poll.The Irish earned the top spot in The Associated Press womens basketball Tuesday, receiving 14 first-place votes from a 33-member national media panel to earn the top ranking in the preseason. Notre Dame last held the No. 1 ranking on March 5, 2001. McGraw returns most of the core from a team that went 33-2 last season.She was happy for the compliment, but found the ranking a little high considering her team is coming off one of its most disappointing seasons in a few years and didnt reach the Final Four for the first time in six years.Id rather we earned it, McGraw said. Were coming off the worst season weve had in six years, it seems odd that were preseason No. 1. You should have to earn it.McGraw has had a bunch of very good teams over the last 15 seasons that never reached the top spot. There always seemed to be someone just a little bit better.Other teams have had good teams, too. Connecticut has had some pretty good teams in there, McGraw said. There was a year when yeah maybe, Stanford beat Connecticut, but then South Carolina went to No. 1.Baylor was a close second, four points behind the Irish. The Lady Bears garnered 12 first-place votes.Being preseason No. 2 in the country brings great recognition to our school and our program, Lady Bears coach Kim Mulkey said. We welcome it. We have a schedule, nonconference and conference, that will be most challenging early in the season. Its one that I think will help us late in the season.UConn, which has won 75 consecutive games and four straight national championships, was third. The Huskies had been the No. 1 team for the last 24 weeks.I dont think we should be No. 1, UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. I dont think we should be anywhere near the teams that almost went to the Final Four and have everybody back and have all that experience and all that talent. Weve been in those situations before and were not there now. So, wherever they put us, Im OK.South Carolina and Louisville round out the top five teams. Maryland, Ohhio State, Texas, UCLA and Mississippi State are next.ddddddddddddTennessee, which had its run of 565 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 end last season, is back in at No. 13. The Lady Vols have been in each preseason poll except the first one. They are one of four teams not ranked in the final poll thats in the Top 25 now.National runner-up Syracuse was 14th, while Final Four participants Washington and Oregon State were 17th and 25th.The Southeastern Conference leads the way with six teams in the top 25. The Pac-12 and ACC each have five. UConn and 21st-ranked DePaul are the only two schools from non-power five conferences to be ranked.The first regular-season poll will be Monday, Nov. 14, with two big games that night. Baylor hosts UCLA while UConn visits Florida State.Here are a few other poll tidbits:ITS BEEN A WHILE: Missouri is ranked in the preseason for the first time since 1984. The Tigers reached the NCAAs for the first time in a decade and return star Sophia Cunningham. Unfortunately, they already lost second-leading scorer and top rebounder Jordan Frericks and reserve Bri Porter for the season with knee injuries.MISSING TRIANGLE: Duke is not ranked in the preseason for the first time since 1994-95. The Blue Devils arent the only member of Tobacco Road absent from the poll. North Carolina and North Carolina State arent ranked either. Its only the second time in the 41-year history of the poll that none of the three are in the preseason rankings. It also happened in 1986.HOOSIER HYSTERIA: Indiana is ranked for only the third time in the programs history. The No. 23 Hoosiers are coming into the season after equaling a school record with 21 victories and winning the teams first NCAA game. Indiana is led by junior Tyra Buss, who averaged 18.8 points last season.---AP Sports Writer Pat Eaton-Robb contributed to this story from Storrs, Connecticut.---More AP college basketball http://collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '