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• (Sports Network) - Ricky Romero takes the mound tonight when the Toronto Blue Jays continue their series with the Seattle Mariners. Dominique Franks Jersey . A 15-game winner in 32 stam/autographed-stephen-nicholas-jersey-kr-88.html. Indians vice president Bob DiBiasio says Dolan was taken to the hospital Wednesday and will remain there for observation. Julio Jones Jersey . It was also their last game at Canad Inns Stadium. Both teams played backup quarterbacks, Montreal because they chose to sit Anthony Calvillo and Winnipeg because Buck Pierce was hurt for the third time this season. Brett Favre Falcons Jersey . Hockey analysts will make very compelling arguments -- and leave anyone who is listening believing that both teams cant lose the win-or-go-home matchup on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. Ah yes, Madison Square Garden, the famed arena in which the host Rangers are 4-0 in Game 7s. TORONTO -- While it took a few days for the news to sink in, newly acquired left-hander Mark Buehrle said hes looking forward to the next stage of his career as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. Buehrle, fellow starting pitcher Josh Johnson and all-star shortstop Jose Reyes were acquired by Toronto in a blockbuster trade with Miami earlier this month. General manager Alex Anthopoulos dramatically reshaped the roster with the 12-player deal along with the free-agent signings of outfielder Melky Cabrera and infielder Maicer Izturis. Buehrle, who signed a US$58-million, four-year contract with the Marlins a year earlier, said he was not expecting to be dealt. "I think it was just a shock and I think the next day or two was just a whirlwind," Buehrle said Thursday on a conference call. "I was just trying to just figure stuff out. Obviously having to do a move again and everything thats involved in switching teams. I think it was just craziness going on for a couple days." The 33-year-old left-hander spent his first 12 big-league seasons with the Chicago White Sox before signing with Miami. He said the trade to Toronto has sunk in now and he has embraced the change with "open arms." Buehrle said hes working with his wife -- also an avid dog lover -- on exploring options regarding his two-year-old pit bull, a rescue dog named Slater. Ontario has had a pit bull ban in place since 2005. "I was joking around with my wife saying that they probably shouldnt let me in the country before they dont let my dog (in), because my dog is so loving and so awesome," he said. "So were working with some people that we know that do a lot of stuff with pit bulls and people up there in Canada. Were trying to work and do what we can do to try to get things resolved, but as of right now I dont know exactly what were doing." The Blue Jays recent moves generated tremendous buzz in playoff-starved Toronto and signalled the team is ready to hang with the big boys in the tough American League East division. Anthopoulos also brought back former manager John Gibbons to succeed the departed John Farrell as skipper. Johnson said he too was shocked to hear about the deal but is "extremely excited" to be joining the Blue Jays. He said that he was chatting about the lineup Wednesday night while out at a basketball game. "I was just like, Wow, its even better than when the trade first went through," Johnson said. The former Marlins join a Toronto team that already has a solid nucleus in place with players like Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, Brett Lawrie and J.P. Arencibia. Buehrle said while the teams in the AL East are always challenging, hes impressed with the clubs direction. "You look at the team right now, youve got to like your chances of getting to the playoffs," he said. Buehrle and Johnson should provide a significant upgrade to Torontos staarting rotation, which has been anchored by Brandon Morrow and Ricky Romero. Akeem Dent Jersey. Buehrle exceeded 200 innings for the 12th consecutive season this past year and went 13-13 with a 3.74 ERA. He said hes always enjoyed his previous visits to Toronto, calling it one of his favourite baseball cities. The Blue Jays also acquired catcher John Buck and infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonifacio and received cash in the Miami trade. In return, the Marlins got infielders Yunel Escobar and Adeiny Hechavarria, pitchers Henderson Alvarez, Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Nicolino, catcher Jeff Mathis and outfielder Jake Marisnick. Torontos payroll increased significantly with the deal. Buehrle has $52 million remaining on his deal, Johnson is owed $13.75 million in 2013 and Reyes has $96 million left on a contract that expires in 2018. A six-foot-seven right-hander, Johnson led the National League with a 2.30 ERA in 2010. He was limited to nine starts in 2011 because of right shoulder inflammation. The 28-year-old Johnson was 8-14 last season with a 3.81 ERA in 31 starts. The two-time all-star recorded 165 strikeouts with 65 walks in 191 1/3 innings. "Id say maybe the last 15 starts, I felt so much better than before," Johnson said. "I was kind of fighting myself, fighting my body, trying to do this or that, maybe trying to find a little bit more velocity. But once I relaxed and just trusted myself, it just kind of came out. "I dont know if I was throwing any harder or anything like that. But you could tell with the depth that I had on my slider and my curve ball, and the location of my fastball got much, much better." Johnson also said he talked with Buck -- who played for the Blue Jays in 2010 -- about what to expect in Toronto. "Bucky said that its an amazing place to play," Johnson said. "The fans are amazing, the coaching staff, all the way up to the front office. Everybody was amazing while he was there. "And he said it shouldnt be any different." Johnson said it "would be great" if Anthopoulos were to ask him about a contract extension. But he said his focus now is on preparation for the 2013 season. "Thats the last thing on my mind is worrying about getting an extension or how long Im going to be there, its more about winning," he said. "Thats all Ive been about since I started playing baseball. Im all about winning, thats all I want to do. It makes everything better. "It makes food taste better, it makes your wife happier, it makes your family happier. Everything is better when youre winning." Toronto is coming off a disappointing campaign in 2012. The Blue Jays finished with a 73-89 record, good for a fourth-place finish in AL East. Notes: The annual winter meetings will be held next week in Nashville. The Dec. 3-6 gathering is set for Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. ' ' '

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