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DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Alex Anthopoulos spoke volumes with what he didnt say on right-hander Ervin Santana. The Blue Jays had been in the mix for the former Kansas City Royal with several Toronto players making a public plea to sign the 33-year-old former all-star. But Santana, a Dominican who counts several Jays as friends, elected instead to sign with the injury-ravaged Atlanta Braves. "I probably dont want to comment on how close I felt we got or didnt get," the Blue Jays general manager said Wednesday. Anthopoulos deflected many questions on Santana, leaving the impression he was not happy with the way the process had gone. Asked if he felt used, he said "No, no. But (thats) probably the only thing Im going to say." Money and terms apparently werent factors in Santanas decision to sign with Atlanta. "He had a strong desire to pitch in the NL and there was no way to compete with that," said Anthopoulos, who is also Torontos senior vice-president of baseball operations. Was that always the case, he was asked? "Very good question," Anthopoulos replied, before suggesting it was better directed at the pitchers camp. However the Jays GM did say he was told "recently" of that strong NL interest. Such hints aside, Anthopoulos was clearly looking to take the high road, "Obviously its done. He made his decision. Hes in Atlanta. Great signing for them. I wish him the best. Sorry it didnt work out with us." Certainly the NL East, home to the .sub-500 Miami Marlins, New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies last season, might seem more hospitable than the thorny AL East. Especially when Santana is eligible for free agency again after this season. Santana has spent his entire career in the American League, with eight seasons as a Los Angeles Angel before being traded to the Royals in 2013. His career record is 105-90 with a 4.19 ERA. He became a free agent after turning down a US$14.1-million qualifying one-year offer from the Royals. Its the same deal he accepted from the Braves and likely in the same ballpark as the Jays offer. Minnesota reportedly tendered a three-year offer but at a lesser annual rate. Unlike last off-season, the Jays have been quiet in player acquisitions. So the Santana snub stands front and centre. Anthopoulos said everyone in the organization wanted Santana to become a Jay. "I think we all feel we did everything we could," he added. With Josh Johnson gone and question-marks over J.A. Happ and Ricky Romero, the Jays have been looking to bolster a starting rotation that features R.A. Dickey, Mark Buehrle and Brandon Morrow. Asked about the paucity of additions, Anthopoulos instead pointed to the healthy return of players like outfielder Melky Cabrera and pitcher Drew Hutchison. "We think Drews got a chance to be outstanding and hes put himself in a great position to make this club. I think if he does make this club, hes got a chance to have a tremendous year." Anthopoulos acknowledged the questions from fans and other observers. "All that being said, I can understand skepticism that comes with the job, the performance we had on the field last year. I think we will show how good we are when we break (spring training). I think the guys that we have tremendous upside but we would have loved to add someone just to have depth." "We werent going to force a deal and do things we really didnt believe in just to make a splash," he added. The GM said the Jays were "extremely close" to landing another starting pitcher in a trade only to see it not happen. He did not provide any other details. Bottom line, he says, the Jays like their talent but know it lacks seasoning in some quarters. So the search continues for that experience. NOTES -- Happ, whose spring training progress has been delayed by back problems, threw a side session Tuesday and "everything felt good," according to manager John Gibbons. Closer Casey Janssen, who has had soreness in his shoulder, was scheduled to throw a side session Wednesday. Dustin McGowan is also back after losing eight pounds to the same stomach bug that hit fellow pitcher Sergio Santos. Jonathan Allen Redskins Jersey . 98 jersey in a game yet, and already its a big seller. Geron Christian Redskins Jersey . -- Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer, Colby Rasmus drove in two runs and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Detroit Tigers 9-4 on Saturday. http://www.cheapredskinslockroom.com/AUTHENTIC-PAUL-RICHARDSON-REDSKINS-JERSEY/ . A better question yet may be this: How many times has the same player been involved in both? Morneau hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning and helped the Colorado Rockies turn the third triple play in team history as they beat the San Diego Padres 8-6 on Sunday. DaRon Payne Redskins Jersey . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. Getting Creative The Pittsburgh Penguins will try their best to acquire Ryan Kesler from the Vancouver Canucks before the Trade Deadline. Washington Redskins Jerseys . Not that he was complaining. Davis had 13 points, nine rebounds and a career-high eight blocks, and the New Orleans Pelicans emphatically snapped a three-game skid with a 135-98 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.PHILADELPHIA -- Jordan Zimmermann is disappointed that he likely wont be able to pitch in the All-Star game. The Washington Nationals right-hander hopes thats the worst of what comes out of Friday nights outing. Zimmermann abruptly left his start in the fourth inning of a 6-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies with a right biceps injury. Zimmermann, who is scheduled to participate in his second straight All-Star game, will be evaluated further on Saturday but isnt expected to pitch Tuesday in Minneapolis, according to manager Matt Williams. Zimmermann (6-5), who had Tommy John surgery in August 2009, called the Nationals training staff out after he threw a pitch to Cameron Rupp with one out in the fourth. He showed no obvious discomfort, but left the mound after a short discussion with the training staff and Williams. He doesnt feel the problem is related to his shoulder or elbow. "It was gradually getting worse with every pitch," he said. "I knew something wasnt right. I didnt want to push it too far." He said not pitching in the All-Star game would be a disappointment. "Obviously, you want to go," he said. "I had all my plans made and I wanted to pitch in front of my family. But the main thing is to get healthy." Zimmermann left after allowing four runs and six hits. He threw 53 pitches, 36 for strikes. "I feel OK now," he said. "I dont think its anything major. Hopefully, the MRI comes out good." Bryce Harper homered for the Nationals, who have lost three of four. Zimmermann has a 1.26 ERA since June 1 with 46 strikeouts and seven walks in 50 innings over seven starts. But he gave up four runs and six hits in 3 1-3 innings against the Phillies. Jimmy Rollins homered twice and A.J. Burnett pitched 7 2-3 strong innings to lead the Phillies to their fifth straight victory. Burnett (6-8) allowed two runs and five hits while striking out six and walking four. He improved to 10-4 with a 3.37 ERA in 19 career starts against Washington. "Hes been tough on us and he was good tonight," Williams said. "He had everything working, and he knows how to pitch." Domonic Brown doubled and drove in two runs for Philadelphia, which matched its longest winning streak of the season. It has been a surprising run for the Phillies, who had lost 113 of 16 before a four-game sweep of the NL Central-leading Brewers in Milwaukee.dddddddddddd Philadelphia hasnt lost since general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. predicted changes, calling the teams offence "poor." The hitters have responded by averaging 6.2 runs over the winning streak. Brown gave Philadelphia the lead with a two-run double in the second and the first of Rollins homers, a two-run shot to right, put Philadelphia in front 4-0. Rupps RBI double off Craig Stammen in the sixth put Philadelphia ahead 5-0 before Harper broke out of a 1-for-22 slump by leading off the seventh with a homer to deep right to pull Washington within 5-1. It was just the second homer of the season for Harper, who missed 57 games due to a thumb injury. Rollins got the run back in the bottom of the inning, just clearing the wall in right for his ninth career multi-homer game. "Were playing good ball," Burnett said. "Its good to see this team clicking on all cylinders." As with the rest of the starters, Burnett has been a victim of lack of run support this season. So the recent outburst is nice to see. "You go about your business the same, but its definitely better to get some runs," he said. Batting leadoff and playing centre field, Grady Sizemore went 1 for 4 with a single in his first game with the Phillies after being called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The three-time All-Star whose career was derailed by injuries had been released by the Red Sox last month after batting .216 with two homers and 15 RBIs in 52 games. The 31-year-old missed all of the 2012 and 2013 seasons due to an assortment of injuries. After leaving Thursdays game at Baltimore after getting hit by a pitch on his right thumb, Washingtons Ian Desmond didnt play Friday. Desmond entered Friday leading all shortstops in the majors with 55 RBIs. NOTES: Philadelphia improved to 19-27 at Citizens Bank Park, where they have struggled this season. ... Rollins last hit two homers in a game on Aug. 1, 2012, at Washington. ... Washingtons Wilson Ramos extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a fifth-inning single. ... The Phillies also won five straight from June 16-20 at Atlanta and St. Louis. ... Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (7-6, 3.47) opposes Phillies LHP Cole Hamels (3-5, 2.87) on Saturday night. ' ' '