er-high five and five other players, including Harden, had one apiece. H

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Cameron Maybin will need some time to get used to playing left field for the Los Angeles Angels after he spent his big league career in center.Maybin thinks hell require no time at all to get comfortable hitting in front of Mike Trout and Albert Pujols.The Angels acquired the 29-year-old outfielder from the Detroit Tigers on Thursday in a trade for right-hander Victor Alcantara. Los Angeles also announced it will exercise Maybins $9 million contract option for 2017.Maybin batted a career-best .315 with four homers, 43 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 94 games for the Tigers last season. Despite a late start due to a broken wrist from getting hit by a pitch in spring training, he also hit .380 with runners in scoring position, one of the majors best marks.After Maybin learned he had been traded for the fifth time in less than nine years, he immediately warmed to the idea of hitting in a lineup featuring two of the games top sluggers.Being on this team, with the way they play baseball and constantly have guys moving, whether its hit-and-run or stealing bases or bunting, I think I fit in with this style of play really well, Maybin said. Im looking forward to playing for Mike Scioscia. Ive enjoyed watching how he manages from afar. I look forward to being part of that poetry in motion.Maybin will have to make two moves with this trade, however: Along with relocation to Orange County, hell have to slide over to left field.Maybin primarily has played center for his entire career, but general manager Billy Eppler expects Maybin to be the Angels every-day left fielder alongside Trout and right fielder Kole Calhoun. Maybin hasnt played in left since a five-game stint during his first big league season in 2007 with Detroit.I am attached to [center], but anybody whos been around me [knows] I always put the team first, Maybin said. With the athletic ability Ive been given, I think I can probably go out there and be one of the best left fielders in the game. ... I look forward to playing left field alongside Mike Trout. You put two center fielders out there, I think Ill be able to make his job a lot easier, and vice versa.Alcantara, 23, has spent five years in the Angels minor league system. He went 3-7 with a 4.30 ERA in 29 appearances for Double-A Arkansas last season, yet the alarmingly shallow depth of the Angels farm system made him one of their better prospects.The Angels got minimal production out of left field in 2016, the teams worst season since 1999. Los Angeles finished fourth in the American League West at 74-88, a steep decline from the 2014 team that won 98 games with the best record in baseball.Eppler swung the first trade of the baseball offseason to shore up a position of seemingly perpetual need for Los Angeles. While an MVP candidate and an above-average major leaguer occupy the other two outfield spots at the Big A, left field has been a problem in recent years.The Angels also have a dismaying recent history of acquiring veterans who underperformed once they joined the outfield, including Josh Hamilton, Gary Matthews Jr., Vernon Wells, Matt Joyce, Daniel Nava and Craig Gentry.Eppler was particularly interested in Maybin after getting an endorsement from Bud Black, Maybins manager in San Diego. Black is now Epplers special assistant.This was something that clearly was an objective of ours heading into the winter, Eppler said. Weve been able to acquire a guy that we are happy to put in left field and give him an opportunity to play every day.The Tigers also exercised their $6 million option for 2017 on closer Francisco Rodriguez, who finished second in the AL with 44 saves in a remarkable season for the former Angels right-hander known as K-Rod. The option contained a $2 million buyout.We liked the job K-Rod did last season, and the numbers show he was a reliable closer for us, said Al Aliva, executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager of the Tigers. He stabilizes the back end of our bullpen and provides veteran leadership to our younger bullpen arms.We will weigh our options as far as center field is concerned for next season. There will be a wide-open competition starting in the spring, and well see how it plays out.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Stitched Lakers Jerseys . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. Los Angeles Lakers Gear . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/ . Its an influence in football and a big part of the game. Lakers Jerseys China . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015. Wholesale Lakers Jerseys . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . HOUSTON -- The Houston Rockets were determined to get off to a fast start and keep the pressure on Philadelphia after seeing the 76ers rally after trailing big on several occasions this season.They executed that plan perfectly.James Harden scored 23 of his 33 points in the first quarter, and the Rockets cruised to a 115-88 win over the 76ers on Monday night.We came in, made shots and defensively really locked in and didnt give them any confidence early in the game, Harden said. Theyve had a couple of games where theyve lost down the stretch against some really good teams, especially at home. So it was important for us to go out there and take advantage of the opportunity.Harden, who posted a triple-double in his previous two games, added nine assists and seven rebounds.The Rockets had a three-point lead with five minutes left in the first quarter when Harden took over, scoring all of Houstons points in a 17-9 surge to make it 35-24. Harden, who was named Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday, made a pair of 3s, all three shots after being fouled on a 3-pointer and a nifty reverse layup in that span.He made each of the eight shots he attempted in the quarter to set a career high for points in a period.The first quarter was ridiculous, Houston coach Mike DAntoni said.The Sixers were led by Joel Embiid and Ersan Ilyasova, who had 13 points apiece.Harden cooled off after his huge first quarter and didnt score in the second period, but the Rockets still had a 65-52 lead at the break.The 76ers made just five of 19 shots in the third quarter, and Houston stretched its lead to 93-68 entering the fourth.We felt like it was still in us to make this into a game, but the game got away from us, coach Brett Brown said. We saw a great player dominate the first period and we dug ourselves a hole from the beginning.Harden is off to a stellar start this season in his first season in DAntonis fast-paced offense. He has scored at least 24 points in each of Houstons first 10 games this season.ddddddddddddTIP-INS76ers: Embiid, who returned after sitting out the last game to rest, led Philadelphia with 10 rebounds. ... Nik Stauskas scored 12 points, and Dario Saric and Gerald Henderson each had 11.Rockets: The Rockets made 17 3-pointers and have made at least 10 3s in nine straight games, which ties a franchise record. ... Nene had 13 points for his third double-digit game this season. He added a block to give him at least one in six straight games. ... Clint Capela had 13 rebounds.BLOCK PARTYThe Rockets had a season-high 10 blocks. Capela led the way with a career-high five and five other players, including Harden, had one apiece. Harden raved about the work of Capela, who took over for Dwight Howard at center this season.If he plays like that were going to be really good, Harden said.THEY SAID ITPhiladelphias Robert Covington on the struggles of the 76ers, who have won just one game: We are still trying to figure things out. A lot of guys havent played a lot of basketball together. We see a lot of what were capable of, its just a matter of time before all things come together.BEVERLEYS RETURNHouston guard Patrick Beverley is nearing a return after missing all season after arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. DAntoni said he expects him to play sometime this week and there is a possibility he could make his debut as early as Thursday. DAntoni said he would start when he returns.Beverley averaged 9.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 71 games last season.UP NEXT76ers: Host Washington on Wednesday as the team begins a stretch of four of the next five at home.Rockets: Will make a one-game road trip to Oklahoma City on Wednesday before returning for two at home against Portland and Utah. ' ' '