CLEVELAND -- Only hours before this seasons home opener, the Indians guaranteed Jason Kipnis will be around for more than a few more. Ross Cockrell Jersey . The All-Star second baseman agreed to a $52.5 million, six-year contract on Friday, binding him to the Indians through the 2019 season. The deal includes a club option for 2020. Kipnis signed the contract one day after turning 27, giving him a birthday gift of wealth and security hell never forget. "Its an amazing feeling to get something done," said Kipnis. "I wanted to stay here. Im excited about being here." Kipnis is the latest core player to be signed to a long-term deal by the Indians, who reached agreements with outfielder Michael Brantley (4 years, $25 million) and catcher Yan Gomes (6 years, $23 million) in the past two months. "Its the ownership, the top, showing us that they believe in us, that weve got the guys who can win games now and we want them stick around," Kipnis said. "Im excited about be a part of that." Kipnis had already signed a one-year deal worth $554,900 in the major leagues and $305,700 in the minors. The new deal calls for a $1 million signing bonus and salaries of $2 million this year, $4 million in 2015, $6 million in 2016, $9 million in 2017, $13.5 million in 2018 and $14.5 million in 2019. The Indians option for 2020 is at $16.5 million with a $2.5 million buyout. He gets a hotel suite on road trips. And he would get a $500,000 payment if hes traded. Kipnis agreement covers this season, all three of his arbitration-eligible years and extends through at least the first two seasons after he could have become a free agent. The Indians and Kipnis agents had been negotiating a deal for months. "This was our third attempt at it, so its good to finally be able to get it done," general manager Chris Antonetti said . "Its a complicated thing. You have to figure out what the right value is, what the appropriate way is to share risk, and this was the time we were able to do it." Kipnis developed into one of the ALs rising stars last season, batting .284 with 17 homers and 84 RBIs in 149 games. He also stole 30 bases, scored 86 runs and led the Indians in runs, hits, RBIs and steals. Kipnis has endeared himself to the Indians, manager Terry Francona and Cleveland fans with his hustling, win-at-all-costs playing style. That grit on display Wednesday night in the ninth inning in Oakland, when after twice failing to move two runners over with a bunt, Kipnis beat out a fielders choice, stole second and scored the go-ahead run as the Indians rallied for a 6-4 win in the second game of a doubleheader. "That was Kip in a bottle," Francona said. "Thats the way Kip plays. Youd see a lot of guys maybe not get the bunt down, strike out, get mad because we asked him to bunt and we lose." After going 92-70 last season and making the AL playoffs for the first time since 2007, the Indians have shown a strong commitment to winning -- now. That hasnt always been the case in Cleveland, where fans have seen the front office trade star pitchers CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee before they could leave as free agents. These new deals, coming a year after the Indians signed free agents Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn to multiyear contracts, are a signal the club intends to compete for a championship. "Its so awesome," Swisher said. "This is not a one-and-done organization anymore. The moves that were making are all the right moves." The signings, too, have changed outside perception of the Indians, who havent won a World Series title since 1948. "When I was on other teams in coming to Cleveland, if you didnt sweep, it was a bad road trip," said Swisher, who previously played with the Yankees, Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics. "For us now, people are realizing that when you come in here, were going to fight for it. I think last years record speaks for itself, but that wasnt our goal, to go out and have one great, amazing season and then just fall off. Everything is going in the right direction." Ronald Darby Jersey . The Orioles announced the deal Monday during their game against the New York Yankees. Gimlet was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Nolan Reimold was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Guilmet on the 40-man roster. Nickell Robey Jersey . Michael Raffl scored in the first period for Austria, which finished third in its group at 1-2. Austria and Norway both lost to Canada and Finland, who met later in the day to decide the group winner. DENVER -- Paul Stastny was slumping and frustrated with his scoring drought. Facing the Dallas Stars helped clear that up for the Colorado Avalanche centre. Stastny scored twice and added two assists and the Avalanche beat the Dallas Stars 6-2 on Monday night. Erik Johnson and Andre Benoit also scored in a four-goal second period, and Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Barrie scored for Colorado. Stastny hadnt notched a point since Nov. 19, when he had a goal and assist against Chicago. The scoring drought grew to nine games before he put together one of his best periods of his career. "I always put pressure on myself," Stastny said. "Of anyone I was probably the most frustrated. Whether I show it or not, you guys wont see it." It was a familiar feeling for Stastny, who had a two-goal game against the Stars on Nov. 1. The lone hat trick of his career came against Dallas on Oct. 3, 2007. His breakout couldnt have come at a better time for him or his team, which has struggled to score lately. "I feel like that, especially for Stast," said forward P.A. Parenteau, who tied a career high with three assists. "We were on the puck the last few games and couldnt get it done. The confidence was low for a couple of guys and its tough on you. Youre playing decent hockey and youre not rewarded." Tyler Seguin had a goal and an assist and Kevin Connauton scored his first NHL goal for the Stars, who have dropped three of the past four. Goalie Kari Lehtonen stopped 42 shots for Dallas in a rare poor start against Colorado. Lehtonen was 8-3-2 with a 2.52 goals-against average against the Avalanche before Monday. "That was pretty much us laying an egg," forward Jamie Benn said. "They came out strong and jumped all over us." The Avalanche outshot Dallas 21-10 in the first period, but managed just one goal against Lehtonen. It was a different story in the second. Stastny broke a 1-all tie when he knocked in Jamie McGinns tip pass 8:29 into the period for his ninth goal of the season. Benoit made it 3-1 when he pinched in from the blue line and blastted a shot through traffic past Lehtonen. Keith Rivers Jersey. . Stastny scored again when he tipped a shot by Gabriel Landeskog in front of the net, and Johnson finished the run with a shot from the top of the right circle with 3 seconds left in the period to make it 5-1. Seguin scored early in the third, but Barries first goal of the season on Stastnys second assist made it 6-2. It was more than enough for the Avalanche, who improved to 3-0 against the Stars this season. Colorado scored six goals despite going 0 for 5 on the power play and failing to score on a pair of two-man advantages. "The power play was really good, to be honest. We had a lot of shots," Avalanche coach Patrick Roy said. "What else can you do? I dont want to over talk about the power play; tonight we didnt need the power play." The teams will play again in Dallas on Tuesday night. Colorado took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period when MacKinnon beat Lehtonen with a shot from the left circle. It was his seventh goal of the season. The Avalanche continued to get shots on Lehtonen, and had a chance to add to their lead when they had 1:26 of a two-man advantage. They couldnt convert, and moments after the Stars killed off Sergei Gonchars penalty, Matt Duchene was sent off for hooking. Connauton tied it on the ensuing 4-on-4 with 33 seconds left in the first. "I was elated," Connauton said. "The elation wore off pretty quick -- as quick as it took them to take over in the second period." Dallas nearly scored again with 12 seconds left, but Seguins shot from a sharp angle never crossed the goal line before resting on goalie Semyon Varlamovs back. Varlamov had 31 saves for Colorado. NOTES: Colorado D Ryan Wilson (back) was activated from the injured list, but did not return to the lineup. Wilson has missed 18 games after being injured Nov. 6 against Nashville. ... MacKinnon extended his points streak to four games. ... The 48 shots were the second most Lehtonen has faced this season. Chicago had 50 shots in a 4-3 loss to Dallas on Dec. 3. ... Colorados six goals tied a season high. wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys cheap soccer jerseys wholesale jerseys wholesale jerseys cheap nfl jerseys china ' ' '